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    8. Penobscot Nə̀pi (Water) Song

    1:1 (Unmetered) Be Grateful Calm Gratitude & Trust Notice Praise & Wonder Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Unison Tend Water
    Song Nə̀pi (Water) Song
    Music & Words Gabriel Paul
    Composed in 2017(?)
    In Penboscot
    ​nə̀pi
    kkəseləmələpəna
    kči-wəliwəni nəpi
    kkihčitamitəhαmələpəna
    Picture
    In English
    water
    we love you
    thank you so much, water
    ​we respect you
    My attempt at IPA
    nɜbe
    gəzɑl  molvənɑ
    gəddʒi  hwəlihwəni  nɜbe 
    gədʒi  dəmi  dəhɑ  molvənɑ 
    Notes: Today’s song is by Gabriel Paul, of the Crow and Eel Clan of the Penobscot, whose homelands are located along various waterways in Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. The song is a song to thank and honor water. I encourage you to learn and take it to water near you to sing -- and then maybe create your own water song and connect to the water that is near you!

    Gabe describes the song's origins on this webpage, and he and his niece, Leigh, have given permission for this song to be sung and shared freely. It is a privilege to be invited to sing in the language of the Penawahpskek nation, and I’ll help you learn it with care – but know that we are guests, and I'm sure I have an accent – it’s okay to be uncomfortable, and honored at the same time. Then visit the Penobscot nation site to respectfully learn more about these people who claim one of the oldest continuous governments in the world.
    ​
    A people who have lived in one place for 11,000 years have a very different perspective than mine, as a child of immigrants. In this episode, I quote Weh'na Ha'mu' Kwasset (She Who Brings the Light), an Indigenous writer and visionary who was raised on Penobscot land, and is also known as Sherri Mitchell. Her book is Sacred Instructions: Indigenous Wisdom for Living Spirit-Based Change.

    Links:
    Youtube recording of Leigh Neptune singing this song.
    Penobscot nation natural resources webpage on Nepi

    Nuts and Bolts: This song is unison, unmetered, Ionian (major).

    Join the A Breath of Song mailing list to receive a heads up as a new episode is released, plus a large version of the artwork, brief thoughts from my slightly peculiar brain... and occasional extras when they seem vitally important! No junk -- I will never sell your address. I read out all your names into my living room when I send new mailings... I appreciate the connection to you who are listening and singing these songs with me.

    Exchange energy with A Breath of Song with dollars at the Gratitude Jar (whoo-hoo!!!!), or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!

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    7. Spiral

    4:4 Accept Change Flex Gratitude & Trust Grow Heal Journey Power & Change Release Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Layer Trust
    Song Spiral
    Music & Words Patricia Norton
    Composed in​ 2020
    Lyrics

    I'm letting myself move in a spiral,
    I'm flexing and I'm swaying and I'm bending with the wind.

    I'm coming down to where I want to be.

    Gotta let me grow, gotta let me grow,
    you know.... I've got to grow.
    Picture
    Notes I wrote this song a few months into the pandemic, at a point when I was disappointed with how I seem to know all this wisdom in my head, but have so much trouble translating it into body knowledge... I was tearful & fearful – and so frustrated with myself. Then I realized – oh, right -- this what it feels like to grow! Moving from comfortable to uncomfortable in a spiral of growth. Which started me thinking about prairie grass – the beauty of acres of grasses swaying and moving in the wind. Roots in the dirt and touching the sky... both growing up and coming down. Natural patterns that occur and recur -- including the spiral.

    ​    Be one of the first to know as new episodes are released, plus a large version of the artwork, brief thoughts from my slightly peculiar brain... and occasional extras when they seem vitally important! No junk -- I will never sell your address. I read out all your names into my living room when I send new mailings... I appreciate the connection to you who are listening and singing these songs with me. Click here.

    You can learn more about me and what influences my choices and work here​.

    ​    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:26
    Start time of reprise: 00:14:08

    Nuts and Bolts 4:4, Layer song, Aeolian (minor)

    Join the A Breath of Song mailing list to receive a heads up as a new episode is released, plus a large version of the artwork, brief thoughts from my slightly peculiar brain... and occasional extras when they seem vitally important! No junk -- I will never sell your address. I read out all your names into my living room when I send new mailings... I appreciate the connection to you who are listening and singing these songs with me.

    Exchange energy with A Breath of Song with dollars at the Gratitude Jar (whoo-hoo!!!!), or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!
  • Published on

    6. Be Open

    2:2 Change Flex Gathering & Welcome Journey Notice Open Play Power & Change Release Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Round Trust
    Song Be Open
    Music & Words Debbie Nargi-Brown
    Composed in 2017
    Lyrics

    Be open for something wonderful to happen
    Be open to the possibility (x2)

    Aiye Aiye Aiye, Aiye Aiye Aiye (x2)
    Picture

    Notes To be open to the possibility of something wonderful happening seems both counter-intuitive in the middle of the pandemic and multiple crises, and also surprisingly comforting and hopeful. And indeed, wonderful things are happening in addition to what's hard and perplexing and dismaying. I love how I feel lighter after singing this -- I wonder how you feel?
    Debbie said she wrote this song to help a couple people in her life that were going through difficult times. She says it is a great song to help manifest a dream into being -- you can think of something you want to come into your life and sing that into being, to embody it as you sing and to really see it happening, to call it in for yourself.

    Songwriter info Debbie Nargi-Brown started singing and dancing on the day she was born! A gifted community song leader, an award-winning dance teacher, and a talented songwriter, she offers her songs with love, compassion, and the hope of bringing joy and healing to others. Debbie’s lyrics and melodies are sung all over the world. She writes songs for the heart, healing, transformation, love, grief, and all that connects us as human beings. Bringing people together in dance and song is one of her greatest joys in life!

    ​Be one of the first to know as new episodes are released, plus a large version of the artwork, brief thoughts from my slightly peculiar brain... and occasional extras when they seem vitally important! No junk -- I will never sell your address. I read out all your names into my living room when I send new mailings... I appreciate the connection to you who are listening and singing these songs with me. Click here.

    You can connect with Debbie and her work at debbienargi-brown.com
    Support Debbie directly by buying "Be Open" on Debbie's Bandcamp: debbienargi-brown.bandcamp.com/album/grief-joy

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:09
    Start time of reprise: 00:10:00
    ​
    Nuts and Bolts 2 harmonized sections which can be sung as a round or layered, in 2:2, Ionian (major) mode.

    Join the A Breath of Song mailing list to receive a heads up as a new episode is released, plus a large version of the artwork, brief thoughts from my slightly peculiar brain... and occasional extras when they seem vitally important! No junk -- I will never sell your address. I read out all your names into my living room when I send new mailings... I appreciate the connection to you who are listening and singing these songs with me.

    Exchange energy with A Breath of Song with dollars at the Gratitude Jar (whoo-hoo!!!!), or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!
  • Published on

    5. Find Our Way Home

    3:4 Accept Calm Gather Gratitude & Trust Grief & Fear Journey Protection & Presence Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Layer Songwriter Conversation Trust
    Song Find Our Way Home
    Music & Words Maggie Wheeler
    Composed in​ 2020
    Lyrics

    We are out here in the open water
    No clear direction to carry on.
    We are out here in the open water
    Together we'll find,
    Find our way home.

    We are out here together (4x)

    Together we'll shine the light,
    Together we'll shine
    Together we'll find
    Find our way home.
    Picture

    Notes Maggie Wheeler talks about the bravery of this last year, how campfires affected her songleading, and how singing becomes a forgiveness practice. But first and last, she shares a song of hers, Find Our Way Home, which rose out of the pandemic, and will be included on a new project she has just started working on. (I go maybe a LITTLE fan-girl-squeaky, but, hey, my first interview, and someone I deeply admire -- I think I can be forgiven!)

    Extra special thanks to Patty Piotrowski, who provides beautiful art for each episode; I particularly love the sea otters in this one!

    Learn more about Maggie's extensive work, and sign up for her emails (I'm definitely on the list!) so you can keep up with what's coming up at goldenbridgechoir.com

    I mention a Peter Occhiogrosso interview with Maggie, in which she eloquently describes the many benefits of singing, among other things...

    Maggie talked about a few artists -- if you have a local music store, of course get them there -- but here are some links, as well:

    Sweet Honey in the Rock Live at Carnegie Hall

    Singer-songwriter Aimée Ringle -- Human and Tender 

    The South African acapella group The Soil

    ​    Maggie Wheeler is best know in the U.S and internationally for her work as an actress in film, television and voice-over and most notably as the character of Janice on NBC’s hit series Friends. Maggie is a passionate singer, songwriter, choir director and workshop facilitator. She has been teaching her vocal workshop "Singing In The Stream" for over 30 years at retreat centers, universities, communities and schools to provide the experience of creating interpersonal harmony and internal harmony through the powerful act of creating vocal harmony. Maggie directs the 100-voice Golden Bridge Community Choir in Hollywood, an inter-generational, non-auditioned choir now going in its 16th year.
    She is a prolific songwriter with a catalog of powerful and timely songs that have been sung by choirs worldwide. Maggie’s original music for choirs and communities is available on Itunes and other music platforms. To accompany her most recent CD entitled 'Walk With Me’, Maggie has created a songbook available by request through her website www.goldenbridgechoir.com Throughout this year of change Maggie hosted a weekly online community gathering called Together In Song, bringing together people from around the world to join in the healing power of singing.

    Links: To learn more about Maggie’s work please visit: www.goldenbridgechoir.com and maggiewheeler.net

    ​    Nuts and Bolts This layered and harmonized song is in 3:4, Ionian mode (major)

    Join the A Breath of Song mailing list to receive a heads up as a new episode is released, plus a large version of the artwork, brief thoughts from my slightly peculiar brain... and occasional extras when they seem vitally important! No junk -- I will never sell your address. I read out all your names into my living room when I send new mailings... I appreciate the connection to you who are listening and singing these songs with me.

    Exchange energy with A Breath of Song with dollars at the Gratitude Jar (whoo-hoo!!!!), or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!