Tags

  • Published on

    94. You Got This

    3 Layer 4:4 Be Present Breathe Celebrate Determination Empower Enough Scale: Mixolydian Trust
    ​​Song: You Got This!
    Music & Words: Cathy Baker​
    ​Lyrics

    You GOT this, uh huh!
    ​You GOT this, uh huh!     x2

    FLY be free!... x2 
    ​
    Soar!     x2 

    Picture

    Notes: A confidence and energy builder in your pocket never goes amiss... it's like a chocolate chip energy bar on a hike! Cathy Baker's song snugs in with an "I've got your back and we're all good" kind of vibe that's perfect for big projects, long days, nerve-wracking performance situations, tedious meetings, phone calls with you-know-who... I loved learning from Cathy that this song was born out of a wee struggle with imposter syndrome as she took on co-leadership of a large, thriving community choir in Victoria, B.C. She and her partner, Dick Jackson, were taking on the Gettin' Higher Choir from much beloved founders Siobhan Robinsong and Denis Donnelly -- and Cathy admitted in next week's conversation to sometimes needing a bit of parking lot boost! Dick and Cathy and I enjoyed taking apart how Denis, Siobhan, Dick, and Cathy all worked together with generosity to create a transition that worked for the choir. But that's next week... for now, You've Got This!

    ​Songwriter Info: Cathy was once the shy middle kid of 5 siblings where singing as a family was just part of everyday life. She always loved singing, especially around campfires, on road trips, wilderness trips or anywhere outside. Always seeking harmony, she got over much of her performance shyness by bringing groups of friends together to sing. She now directs the Gettin' Higher Choir with her life partner, Dick Jackson, and she is on the leadership team for both The Ubuntu Choirs Network and the Community Choir Leadership Training (CCLT) program in Victoria, BC. Cathy is active in her local Unitarian Universalist community where Dick is the Musical Director. Together, Cathy and Dick provide musical leadership for Canadian UU camps and Canadian national UU services. They both welcome the opportunity to bring members of the Gettin' Higher Choir to "Sing When Asked To" community events. Dick was fortunate to have singing in the home with his Mom from an early age, and kept involved with singing, school band and organ, later with percussion, piano and a few stints in opera chorus. A keen observer of his excellent music leaders over the years, he is grateful to be able to make this a shared joyful vocation with Cathy.​

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share but Cathy always welcome financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.

    Links:
    Gettin' Higher Choir: http://www.gettinhigherchoir.ca/

    ​Nuts & Bolts: ​4:4, Mixolydian, 3-part layer song

    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

    93. Breathe Along With Life

    4:4 Be Present Breathe Calm Celebrate Flow Journey Light Release Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Sun
    ​​Song: Breathe Along With Life
    Music & Words: Chloë Rose Vispap-Rich
    ​Lyrics

    Mark out your golden lines
    Create your golden times
    Breathe along with life
    Away you go.
    Away you go,
    Away you go,
    Breathe along with life
    Away you go.
    Picture
    Notes: Chloë Rose Vispap-Rich has uncovered such a glorious both/and song for me. The golden beauty of clear boundaries and choice-making -- how we can delineate our lives in response to our deepest inner voice and knowing of what we need and want -- and at the same time, life is full and rich and complex, and we can release into the flow of it swirling around and through us, let ourselves be swept into the dance. Whee!!! The sweetness and gentleness of both clarity and acceptance, in a song that has light and movement. I feel so completely spoiled by getting to spend my time making this podcast.

    ​Songwriter Info: Chloë is a music therapist from London, England. She is part of the Natural Voice Network and leads a community singing group. Chloë likes to write and share easily accessible but moving songs. In 2020 (during the national lockdown) she wrote and produced a song book called Songs In Harmony , a collection of 10 songs in 2 and 3 part harmony. They are short songs with themes such as connection, going with the flow, absence, love and dreams. Breathe Along With Life is about simultaneously taking control of the path of your life whilst also going with the flow.​

    Sharing Info: Yes -- The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Chloë for recording and/or performing permission at thesingingheartchoir@gmail.com

    ​Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, 2-part -- melody and harmony

    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

    92. I'm Coming Home

    4:4 Belonging Heal Home Journey Listen Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Call & Response Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Unison Trust
    ​​Song: I'm Coming Home
    Music & Words: Marv Zauderer
    ​Lyrics
    ​
    I long for home
    A clear way home
    I hear my voice
    I'm not alone
    I search inside
    I see I'm known
    My own heart waits
    I'm coming home
    Picture

    Notes    :     I often gather richness from the way different art forms play off each other – and I love the combination of the Rilke poem I read at the beginning of this episode, and Marv’s song. Honestly, I end up spending a lot of time looking for that tower of strength inside myself – the ancient heart core that is rooted in the earth and stretches to the sky, that connects to my ancestors, both past and future. When I catch glimpses of it, I sense a way-finding clarity; when I circle around it I feel the enticement of belonging; when I inhabit it, I am at home, whether as falcon, storm, or song. I love the way Marv’s song quests, circles, and settles back at home.

    ​Songwriter Info: Marv loves community singing, songleading, and bringing people together. At a time when so many of us feel a need to return more resonance and community to our lives, Marv is passionate about the unique power of singing together to connect us more deeply within, to each other, and to something larger than ourselves. He is a graduate of Littlebird Songleader Flight School, a member of The Living Room Choir, a proud alum of the West Marin Choir/Common Voice, and the chief cook and bottle-washer of SingOnline.org and the online SingOnline.org Song Circle, where, unlike on Zoom, through the miracle of free software everyone can see and hear every word from everyone. Later this year he’ll complete the Community Choir Leadership Training, following past graduates (and heroes!) like Maggie Wheeler, Laurence Cole, and MaMuse. In his previous careers he was Founder & CEO of a hunger relief organization; a psychotherapist & executive coach; and a technology executive at such companies as Apple. He has also restarted his psychotherapy and executive coaching practices; you can find details at TherapyWithMarv.com and CoachingWithMarv.com.​

    Sharing Info: Yes -- The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Marv for recording and/or performing permission

    Links:
    Marv's Website: http://singwithmarv.com
    Marv's Instagram: http://instagram.com/singwithmarv
    Marv's Facebook: http://facebook.com/singwithmarv
    Rilke poem with translations:     https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NYYMoFQ_78C5u4Ql6OyjpZEXD3TGJuuxAX1b8T1C07U/edit?usp=sharing
    Hear Marv singing the song himself with Heather Stevenson on piano & harmony: I'm Coming Home on Soundcloud

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:19
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:01

    ​Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Major, Call & response or unison or harmonized

    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

    91. You Are Enough

    4:4 Belonging Earth Enough Generosity Gentle Heal Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Call & Response
    ​​Song: You Are Enough
    Music & Words: Louise Blackburn ​

    ​Lyrics
    You are enough
    Go gentle on the earth
    Go gentle on yourself
    You are enough
    Picture
    Notes: It was amazingly fortuitous -- Louise Blackburn and I had agreed on releasing her song as episode #91, and then it turned out that recording episode #91 live would be just the right time to celebrate 25,000 downloads -- and we had the perfect song in place. In June of 2021, I had searched long and hard for a podcast I could listen to from which I could learn songs for well being and more about the people who shared these songs. I couldn't find it, so I started A Breath of Song together with Patty Piotrowski, constantly reminding myself that who I am, what I bring to the table, is enough. I love the way Louise's song embeds that idea in my brain with gentleness and persistence. The spacious, simple harmonies create an elegant call, while the response feel like it's tugged out of my heart. Recording live in front of a full gallery Zoom audience was a novel way to create an episode, and I believe you can feel the connection I felt with the group and we all felt with you who listens now across the space/time continuum.

    ​Songwriter Info: Louise feels incredibly lucky to run choirs, workshops, festivals, singing for wellbeing groups and yoga and voice sessions across Birmingham, Walsall, Sutton Coldfield and Sandwell in the United Kingdom. Her songs are an absolute joy of creation for her and have been sung all over the world including New Zealand and America. It makes her very emotional to think of them being sung and enjoyed by other people.
    ​
    Sharing Info: The song is free to share but Louise always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.

    Links:
    Louise's website: www.voicesentwined.co.uk
    Louise's Spotify:     https://open.spotify.com/artist/4oTIDDsibmihC771Wvy1Mh

    ​Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Aeolian, 3-part harmonized call with response

    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

    88. The Land of Oden

    4:4 Be Present Change Earth Farewell Journey Round Scale: Mixolydian Time
    Song: A Land of Oden
    Music & Words: Unknown

    Lyrics
    In the land of Oden,
    there stands a mountain,
    ten thousand miles in the air.
    A little bird comes winging once every million years 
    and sharpens its beak on the mountain,
    then quickly disappears.
    And when that mountain has worn away,
    this til eternity will be one single day.
    Picture
    Notes: I love the way this song takes me into completely different scope of time -- geologic, massive, unimaginable -- and therefore inescapably present. "Ïn the Land of Oden" has a murky history, both for lyrics and melody… it was recorded in the 1960s by many different folk artists, including Peter and Gordon, Barry McGuire and the New Christy Minstrels, and the Townsmen… but is credited to different composers on each recording. And they are all slightly different than the version I learned from Adam Podd (check out episode #82!). This particular melody has stayed with me, though, and it resonated in me with a Buddhist story Jack Kornfield tells about something lasting for 1000 kalpas – and each kalpa is as long as it takes for a bird dragging a silk scarf across a mountain to wear it away. In a Grimm’s Fairy Tale, recorded in 1812, the Shepherd’s Boy responds to the king’s third question about eternity with a description very similar to this, although the mountain is made of diamond and is in the land of Pomerania! So for this moment, welcome to fairy-tale time.
    ​
    Sharing Info: As far as I know, this song is free to share.

    Links: 
    Grimm's Fairy Tale: http://www.pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/story139.pdf

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Mixolydian, round

    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

    85. This Body with Guest Heather Pierson

    4:4 Accept Be Present Calm Change Grieve Grow Heal Listen Notice Rest Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Unison Song Form: Zipper Trust
    Song: This Body
    Words & Music by Heather Pierson
    Lyrics
    This body *breathing*.
    This body *breathing*.
    This body is here,
    This body is now.

    "breathing" can be replaced by other words,
    like singing, dreaming, healing, grieving, living, smiling, loving, etc.
    Picture
    Notes: Singing this meditative mantra with Heather Pierson's butter-warm voice draws me right into the here and now, even when I'm dealing with tech glitches... it's powerful stuff, and I've been putting it to the test! Heather says, "Music is an invitation..." and in our conversation, she talks about the different ways that plays out during grieving, learning to sing solo, collaborating, choosing songs, giving permission. Have you ever thought about how the meditation concept of titration might apply to leading a circle? Well, we've got you covered!

    Songwriter Info: Heather Pierson is a pianist, singer/songwriter, songleader, and performer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She has released 14 albums, two songbooks, and several singles of her original music ranging in style from folk to jazz to vocal chants. Since 2018, she is the co-creator with fellow songleader Bernice Martin of Heart Songs & Circle Songs, a community singing project dedicated to the cultivation of harmony, wellness, connection, joy, and peace through music and song. When she isn’t making music, Heather enjoys her meditation practice, hiking, cooking, writing, reading, and watching the birds.

    Links: 
    Heather's album 'Wishes of Lovingkindness', available for free or by donation at her Bandcamp: https://heatherpierson.bandcamp.com/album/wishes-of-lovingkindness
    For more information about Heather's community singing project with Bernice Martin, please visit https://www.heartsongsandcirclesongs.com.
    For more information about all of Heather's musical offerings, please visit: https://www.heatherpierson.com.
    Heather's growing community on Patreon enjoys early and exclusive access to new songs, videos, and poetry every week. Learn more at https://www.patreon.com/HeatherPierson
    ​    Kansas: “The Spider”
    Melanie DeMore... "These songs are like medicine." Here's Melanie leading two of her medicine songs:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3D1U_Cmlxc
    Leah Boyd/Leah Wolfsong ‎Leah Wolfsong on Apple Music
    The early albums:
    ‎We All Have a Song by Heather Pierson on Apple Music
    ‎Honor The Light by Heather Pierson on Apple Music
    Laurence Cole: “Attention is the healer of separation”
    Gray catbird
    Baked Beans recording (Alan Bean) Recording Studio | Baked Beans Recording Studio | United States
    Peaceful Means (Leah Boyd & Heather Pierson) (3) Peaceful Means | Facebook
    ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND - Live At Fillmore East (Deluxe Edition) - Amazon.com Music
    The Wood Brothers The Wood Brothers (thewoodbros.com)

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:31
    Start time of reprise: 01:03:53

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, with a lovely minor final note; unison zipper song

    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!