Happy Birthday Jim Henson and Dark Crystal Age of Resistance TRIBUTE COVER

Behold the Darkening!!!

This is my own and new TRIBUTE COVER of prequel series DARK CRYSTAL AGE OF RESISTANCE main theme composed by Daniel Pemberton. The series premiered last August but mylove for the original movie is from tender childhood. In fact… another Dark Crystal cover Pris? I’m not finished yet… This is my THIRD and a fourth (All Maudra Song) is in the making. Stay tuned!

This version was entirely performed and arranged by myself using different folk instruments like bowed psaltery, dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, piano, kalimba, small percussions and flutes among others. The recording is also available at my patreon, where I’m posting this candid tributes and covers.

I have always been a big fan of all Henson works from Dark Crystal to Fraggle Rock.

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If you know Jim Henson’s Works (Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock, The Muppets, Sesame Street, The Storyteller and more) tell me which one is your favourite.

If you haven’t watched this movie the Dark Crystal movie from 1982 (first movie with no human characters) directed by Jim Henson (hero of my childhood) and Frank Oz, and for me the best fantasy movie ever made. I grew up as a child collecting the figures and books, and I’ve crossed several times paths with the team of artists that worked in the original movie, but I was not not prepared for my favourite movie to be back at the spotlight… so many things I can’t afford now LOL I won’t be able to catch up with merchandising anymore 🙂
Back in the day it was a flop, it was a very expensive project that faced for the first time how to create an entire world without the computer graphics that exist today. The whole movie is an ode to pupeteering and practical effects like no other. Water tanks with ink were used for the skies, matte painting on glass for the landscapes, and every single plant, animal, rock and detail was done to be a world out of our own and still very “earthy”

This Cover is the main theme of the new series and my version dedicated to all the team of artists that bring the world of Thra to life and of course congratulations to Daniel Pemberton for creating memorable new music for my all time favourite Universe. As a purist of the original movie I was excited about the new series but also scared. It satisfied my expectations and more 🙂 Even if I will be always a devoted fan of the original movie, the new series expands the folklore about a world I grew up to love as a child.

Making Of

My previous Dark Crystal Cover was all outdoors in Nature, this one is indoors at the studio, using purple leds, a smoke machine and props to mimic the atmosphere inside the Skeksis castle. I choked a bit on so much smoke but I think it looked rather magical at the end and very fitting with the looks of the series.

Cosplay

I tried to mimic the Gefling Deet, she is a Grottan that lives in the caves. She is very sweet and very connected to Earth and its creatures. She often carries glowing lichens and moss and she is (spoiler) affected by darkening. All the Darkening in the series is represented by the “purple” hues of the once clear Crystal of Truth that has been split and broken by the cruel Skeksis.

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Above: The Dark Crystal is a tale balance between our light and shadows. Astral creatures called the Urskeks are fragmented into evil vicious Skeksis and Gentle but passive Mystics as the Crystal of Truth was cracked and darkened. Nether one nor another are even or complete. The whole arch in the series and later in the movie is to “HEAL” back together what was broken

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Above: Lore one of the “new characters” in the series but originally envisioned by Jim Henson inspired by the Devon rocky landscapes. He (It) makes a little cameo in my video.

Note. thank you very much to HĂ©ctor CorcĂ­n for rendering the 3d parts to composite in my video and for your help in the post-production of the video. Thanks for your partnership and help always.

Recording the audio

As you have read in one of my recent posts I injured my hand not long ago and I’m not quite recovered… still I’m a stubborn determined person so I managed to finish this. So for me there is even much more effort than the one that is shown, and overcoming frustrations when I couldn’t play as well as I wanted to. It’s not perfect but I think that’s part of the charm too, that it is kind of rustic as the instruments that were used.

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Above: Me playing “hammered dulcimer”. If you are familiar with my discord server you may have seen me rehearsing this with my sprained hand and a splint hahah 🙂
This instrument is also known as Santoos. Instead of being plucked the strings are hit percussively with “hammers” in the shape of spoons hence the name.

I also used my bowed psaltery (both plucked and bowed). This instrument has a very medieval-renaissance sound that was very fitting for the “vibe” I wanted to achieve.

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As always I added some flutes. This was a challenge with my injured hand (I feel like a super-hero) but I managed 🙂

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I also used small drums, gongs, bowls and shakers as percussion. Here with a seed shaker. I like this one because I wanted to use very “organic” and fantasy looking.

For the first time I included a kalimba or thumb piano. This was a recent gift from HĂ©ctor and this is the first time I feature it in a recording. (Yes Playing “thumb piano with a sprained thumb). Noone said I lack determination 🙂

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I also used bowed glass, piano and other instruments that are not shown in the edit. Overall a bit painfulbut fun. Of course I took breaks but I feel very accomplished.

And of course even if the original theme by Daniel Pemberton has no vocals I had to include some choirs because that is my signature to it. It’s meant to be a candid tribute but also a personal reinterpretation.

Another world… Another time. Thra: A Wold created by Jim Henson and The Frouds

I have said it countless times… If there is someone I’ve always admired is Jim Henson and his legacy. You may remember previous posts with Dark Crystal and when I first started posting here a “Rainbow Connection” tribute.
My favourite film of all time is “The Dark Crystal” which is above all a story about “balance” that provided a solid foundation of principles

So first of all Happy Birthday Jim Henson…today he would have turned 83 years but he left us way to soon due to a pneumonia in 1990, way too soon.

My previous two Dark of Crystal tributes

As The Dark Crystal was such an important inspiration for me as a child I’ve recorded previously two other covers that I had shared previously.

Gelfling Song

  • Gelfling Song sung by Kira in the original movie (1982) here performed by me with just voice, double Ocarina and ambient sounds I recorded myself along with HĂ©ctor.

Jen Play His Pipes

24th of September. Happy birthday Jim Henson (1936-1990)

Today is Jim Henson’s birthday… As you know yesterday I shared my third “Dark Crystal” tribute but it’s only one of the many tributes to his work I’ve done. I will be forever grateful for all the magic, wisdom, lessons of kindness he taught me as a child through his work.
Jim Henson’s works are about a rare wisdom, call it naive sometimes, but with a message that runs deep to the soul, to remind us there are things that matter, there are things we need to care about. Be good and honest, and everything will be all right. And all of this shaped me as a little child and made me become a better person. I am not the only one, I know of many others who were listening to these “lessons”.

Whats´s so amazing that keeps us stargazing…?

He said once…
When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there. ”― Jim Henson

Watch out for each other. Love everyone and forgive everyone, including yourself. Forgive your anger. Forgive your guilt. Your shame. Your sadness. Embrace and open up your love, your joy, your truth, and most especially your heart. - Jim Henson


Image taken from AZquotes (they allow embedding). Click to see original source.

Indeed he did make the world better…
At least Mine…

Here another tribute to this wonderful genius and creator: A Rainbow Connection originally sung by Kermit the Frog, a character he created and interpreted until the day he died.

Curious fact:

When he died all puppeteers gathered to sing “If just one person believes in you”
If you ever need motivation look for “Jim henson Memorial”

And when all those people
Believe in you
Deep enough
And strong enough
Believe in you
Hard enough
And long enough
It stands to reason
You yourself will start to see
What everybody sees in you
And maybe even you
Can believe in you, too

Thank you for your legacy…

With gratitude!

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Priscilla Hernandez
singer-songwriter & illustrator
http://yidneth.com

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A Return to the Big blue: Visiting the Flysch and Cliffs of Guipuzcoa

Some impressions of my recent trip to the sea and a moody poem inspired by the Ocean.

Return to the sea

I was born in an oceanic island, La Palma (Canary Islands) but I live now inland… Still I miss the ocean so much… It has taken me one year though to return to salty waters… The foam and spray helped me so much. This beach is Zumaia one of famous “Game of Thrones” locations. Sea water is warmer than the usual river ponds were I bathe now. As I explained some posts before this Summer has been a “challenge” for me and it’s been kind of a healing journey.

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Amphitrite was the wife of Poseidon, Greek God of the seas… one of the many Nereids (Ocean Nymphs). Are there legends of water spirits in your area?

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Venus, representation of “Womanhood” was also born from Sea foam

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The first book I ever read was a compilation of Hans Christian Andersen tales including The Little Mermaid I always found tragic how she ended up becoming sea foam, but it was also a tale of transformation

I spent hours and hours last Tuesday… absolutely mesmerized as the low tide grew back in and covered all the exposed Flysch (a special geological formation). We stayed until sunset, when the seagulls joined the moody skies to greet us.

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The Sentinel (Poem)

So here I little poem I wrote

When the winding path leads my weary feet back to the shore
and the tidal waves are lifting as they make the oceans roar
as they lash against the rocks
and the seagulls are squalling over my head
against clouds moving swiftly
Then If you ask me to ride on the foamy edge
and get caught in the undertow
I will carry with me your unspoken vows
and dive to hide them deep
fathoms below

So that was all for today…

Blessings

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Pris

All pictures of me by my partner HĂ©ctor CorcĂ­n

Additional pictures of this set exclusively on PATREON.COM/YIDNETH

And now ready to face what’s coming…

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Location: Zumaia Flysch

Finally here a mosaic of impressions of that day where you can appreciate the amazing geological formations in the Guipuzcoan Coast that lead down into the sea, formed through the erosive action of water and movements of land over the course of 50 million years, in fact they include fossil evidence of the massive extinction of the dinosaurs due to a meteorite. These whimsical have always been of interest to geologists on account of their fossil remains. The cliffs are impressive and the Flysch is only exposed at low tide so you must plan your visit accordingly not to be trapped by the tides. Overall an amazing day.

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Nothing is Done until It’s Done: New Single! A song NOT to live in denial

The song has some fierce and ominous points but also airy ethereal hopeful soaring parts, It will be a bit different than my usual as it was also born from a time of “turmoil” but also taking action into that 🙂 You know… nothing is done until it’s done

Today 1st of September this new song premiers on all digital outlets (Spotify, Itunes, and more!) Please, share it and add it to your playlists. Please spread your word.

What is this song about? It may be different for everyone… Please do tell me what the words mean for you!

It could be of course a song against Global Warming and protection of our Mother Earth, but also it could be a song about our fears and anxieties and how we must control them and get untangled from all the doubts of “denial” in a broad way… Things that we should change and we leave for later until they take hold of us in a loom…

Let these words be your waking call..

Let’s unravel not to live in denial… What do you think it should be done before it’s too late?
Tell me in the comments

Nothing is done until it’s done… Act before it’s late




LYRICS

Feel like your spirit grows stronger
Though its challenge has only begun
There’s anything it can’t conquer
When the weights of the doubts are all gone
And defiant it won’t weep in silence
When it feels cause is fair to be won
It’s standing firm in sheer defiance
Because nothing is done until it’s done

We might be running out of time
Because nothing is done until it’s done

Shadows may gather in darkness
Neath the weight of impending gloom
We can’t get rid of this madness
Because we got tangled in its loom
Are the circles becoming spirals?
We’re the thread and the web’s been spun
Let’s unravel not to live in denial
Because nothing is done until it’s done

We might be running out of time
Because nothing is done until it’s done
We might be running out of time
And the time has come around
And nothing is done until it’s done

Let these words be your waking call
(The stronger we push, the faster we fall)
We might be running out of time
Because nothing is done until it’s done
Because nothing is done until it’s done
Let these words be your waking call

We might be running out of time
Nothing is done until it’s done

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