Hospice team login
In the summer 2022, the Arts Team hosted an innovative Musician in Residence initiative with folk singer / songwriter Harry Harris. Spending a day per week at the hospice, Harry met patients, families, staff and volunteers and listened to their life stories. These stories often turned into lyrics and songs portraying powerfully people’s own soundtracks. Harry, said:
“Over two months during the summer of 2022, I was a voluntary musician in residence at St Columba's Hospice Care in Edinburgh. I went into the hospice twice a week, taking my recording equipment and my instruments, set myself up in the building's arts studio, with the intention of writing and recording songs with, and inspired by, the staff and the people who I met while I was there.
"I wanted these songs to paint a picture of the truth of that space. The hard parts, the painful parts, but also the hopeful parts, and the joyful parts too. All of those feelings exist together, each as important as the other, each as necessary to sit with and hold onto.
"These are songs about life, in all its forms.”
The playlist below contains some examples of the songs that emerged the ‘Life Story Soundtracks’ project.
Listen on Spotify
"These are songs about life, in all its forms.”
Harry Harris
Harry Harris is a singer, songwriter and composer from mid-Wales, now based in Edinburgh. He has released three albums, two EPs, and toured across the UK, Ireland, Italy and Germany. In 2019 he was the Musician in Residence at Edinburgh arts venue Summerhall, and his work has been championed by BBC Radio Scotland, The Telegraph, Clash Music, RnR and many others. He is currently working on his first piece of musical theatre, in collaboration with director Lucy Atkinson and RJG Productions, and is in training to become a music therapist.
Patient care servicesWellbeing serviceFamily and carersRefer a patientCompassionate NeighboursFundraiseVolunteerEnter our weekly prize drawVenue hireOur storyJoin our TeamOur leadership teamFeedback and participation
