March 2007

Hi Candice,

I have to honestly say that you are the luckiest woman in the world. Living
with a man whose hobby is "walking in the forest, pondering the mysteries of
life" and having his instruments all over the house and playing music all
day long... Wow... Me, the one musician I had met only played music to make
money and those few times i "dared" to ask him play music with me, he
accused me of being with him "only for the sake of music". And every time I
asked him to walk in the woods with me, he said he preferred to stay at home
and listen to his MP3s. So up to now I have been going to the forest alone -
it's what my whole life's about, where i belong, in the arms of nature...
Not in the four walls of a house and in front of a computer screen. but it's
so sad that i cannot share the most precious moments with someone who means so much to me. But the thing is, when i first met him, he wasnt like that.

He made me think we had lots in common. We stilll do, of course, but when i
go for a walk in the enchanted forest (which is thankfully near my area) i
am alone. Just me and the trees and the echoes of the haunted winds. Its a
journey of discovery, but how far can i go when i am alone?

Please advice me what to do

PaleMoon

Dear Pale Moon,

What a beautiful name, but my heart cries when hearing your story. You are a true child of the universe, at one with nature, a very rare and wonderful gift to find in one's soul in these times. I don't understand someone who only makes money from music and will not share it with you lovingly. Music is an incredible gift, a spiritual outlet. Those who manipulate this gift soley for financial purposes are not in it for the right reasons. It is like trying to sell a rainbow or a mountain. I'm sure people try to get money out of beautiful things all over the world, but then they are ruled by money, not by the awe you receive when just seeing something for the sake of its natural beauty. The wonder and awe should be the fullfilling factor. Not the monetary gain.

A musician who gets nothing but money out of his craft, is a performer- but not an artist. They do it for what they can receive, not for what they feel...if they feel. It should be about the giving, not the receiving, as with any great gift. But music is so magical, the most powerful connection..and it saddens me that he has twisted its purpose.

The woods you ave by your home is your salvation, your sanctuary. Please remember that you are NEVER alone! There are so many who feel as you do... And while in the woods, we are all as one... together...through a spiritual force. Be it through the snows that gently fall, the song of the bird, the thunder that shakes the earth or the wind that rustles the trees. Those calls should remind you that not only does the forces of nature run deep and strong through us all...through the very core of us...but there are many of us out there at the same time as you- walking the woods, sitting at the ocean, feeling the breeze and allowing ourselves to breathe the power and beauty into our spirits.

Keep discovering...keep on your journey and your path...there are so many beautiful things to discover! Follow your heart as to where you should go...but don't despair. Let go of the negative and the path becomes clear. Let the wind take you to where you belong...and breathe...

Much love and strength to you...
Candice

Dear Candice Night

At the begin of my short letter i had to tell you,that my english isnt so very well,but i will try to explain so very well what does your and ritchies performance to me.

i am 45 y.o. from vienna,austria and i am a fan from ritchie since i saw him with rainbow in vienna in 1976.

i ever looked what he had done and my found to write while i am so interested in getting an answer to my question if you and ritchie believe in "reincarnation".

my second quenstion is what s your found to like so much the "renaissance - music - style.

i am so great like all kind of music and all things which make my personal energy higher and let have a further nice day in my life.
i am so sure,that we all can gave back to our all mother earth so many things first of all is love

i sure,that each pair,each man which lead a lovely fullfilled life help us all
i worked with a japan old technique called "rei-ki" which works with the energy which gave to me by my god in which i believe.

i am so sure,that each human can get so much hapiness which he can come to the point to understand that freedom each human make a part and hapiness is come from himself or herself in his and her heart and soul i think now in that summer i will try so much to see you and ritchie live at a concert and at the end the best wishes from true fan from austria and i hope ,that you and ritchie will get enough power to make so likely music with such so feeling and also the best for your and ritchies personal private life
best regards

walter rosenauer
vienna,austria

Hello Walter,

How beautiful your thoughts are...yes..I believe....
We should all be trying to find peace in our own lives and on that path we will be able to give the same, love, joy, beauty, magic back to the earth and to others... This is my vision too. To show that positivity can be contagious...To be the changes you want to see in the world. Thank you for helping to spread the message!

Your questions are interesting... I do believe in reincarnation, but I also believe in parallel times and ghosts. And I dont think that the answers are as simple as believing in one and not the other as if you can choose only one. I think that everything works together. But I can't explain how. And I also don't think that humans are meant to understand all of the "impossible" things in this world- which I believe are all possible. I feel what is right most of the time as opposed to having to analyze everything. I don't believe in definitions or explanations because we ecah have our own for the simplest things, so you can imagine how convulted it can get when you try to apply the same definitions to more complicated matters. I think the heart knows and understands many many secrets. And it holds those secrets dearly.

The Renaissance music style, I love because it has honesty. Its written from a pure place, not for fortune or fame. And the stylings are so amazing. The more somber songs are come straight from the heart. The pagentry songs are so bombastic it is as if those were the rock songs of the 16th century. The melodies are haunting and stay with me long after the music has stopped playing. The visuals I get while listening fit so perfectly with nature- it is the perfect music to look out the window to and watch the trees waving in the winds. Almost like natures soundtrack.

Please keep your energy levels high and keep spreading that wonderful energy to others and to the earth.

Love and light,
Candice

My name is Daniele,i'm a boy that lives in Ostia,near Rome,on the sea..
I listened The Blackmore's Night for the first time one year ago,at one of my friend's home. It was love at first glance...or,I think that it's better to say,love at first listening.

I want to ask you when you(and all your group) come back in Italy for a performance...last summer I miss it! please forgive me!
Your music it's very important for me,every day I hear your songs,when I go to work ,when i back home,when I'm reading,and before to sleep,it's like a ritual, like a caress for my soul.

There's a verse that say:.. It's in the past my heart will stay/In a time so far away from me/I'll return someday...

Your music it's very special,maybe I'll be trite,but for me it's important say to you that you are my favorite group in absolute.

I hope to see you soon in Rome!
I'll be waiting you!!!

A big hug,Daniele

Hello dear Daniele,
As you asked...we will return to Italy very soon! You can see where we are playing in Italy by clicking here. Or keep up with the band's news via the Italian websites: www.minstrelhall.it or www.ritchieblackmore.info. We won't be playing Rome again this time around, but perhaps you'll take a little drive to some of the other shows in Italy?

Thank you for your kind words...Hope to see you at the shows!

Love and light,
Candice

Dear Candice and Ritchie,

Your music and voices bring warmth even to our cold Siberia in Russia. Thank you for a wonderful peaceful world you create.

I would also like to know what kind of animal toy I could see on a microphone on the DVD and why you keep it there?

Many thanks

Love
Tatiana
Siberia
Russia

Hello Tatiana,

Thank you for your kind words. They bring warmth to me here in snowy Long Island...though I think your snow season far out lasts ours!

The animal you see on our microphone stand is a Possum (also known as oppossum). You may remember Ritchie had a couple of instrumentals :Possum Goes To Prague and Possum's Last Dance. Here, at our home, where we write and record our music, we have many nocturnal visitors. Deer, foxes, raccoons, mice, birds, and, yes, even possums come out to visit us at night. So, one evening while Ritchie was doing a guitar solo, he saw 2 eyes watching him from the window. He looked up and there was a possum watching him perform! The possum stayed around long enough for Ritchie to finish playing before scurrying back into the brush. Ever since then, we have included the possum on our journey. By naming songs after his adventures, or by bringing him with us on tour, even if it is just a stuffed animal to represent him. He's kind of become the mascot of the stage.
Thanks for your question and stay warm!

Love and light,
Candice