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  • Published on

    154. Gather – We Are Not Alone

    4:4 Abundance Be Present Belonging Celebrate Empower Gather Grieve Hope Love Release Scale: Minor Song Form: Harmonized Trust
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    ​Start time of teaching: 00:03:12
    Start time of reprise: 00:17:21
    Lyrics:

    We gather with *courage
    In the presence of all who hold us
    Gather with *courage
    In the presence of love

    We are not alone here
    We are not alone

    ...*grief...*our fear...*hope...
    ​[whatever you are arriving with]...
    Picture
    Song: Gather - We Are Not Alone
    Music by: Joanna Laws Landis

    Notes: As we gather, by whom are we held? The trees, the earth, the air, the bugs, the people? And what do we bring? Hunger, courage, fear, hope, laughter? Our voices... our dreams. Joanna Laws Landis has written a song to hold the fullness of all this, and the ways in which we are not alone. Next week, join us for a songwriter conversation that explores how we show up... I'll give you a hint: Joanna says in it, "I am a new person in every moment," and talks about how she has observed “how much singing together can really knit a group together.” I hope you experience the fullness of being held... I am looking to be more aware of that myself!
    ​
    Songwriter Info: Joanna Laws Landis (she/her) is a song-carrier and grief-tender with a deep trust in the transformational healing power of welcome and compassion. Joanna was steeped in song and harmony from her early years: in church, at school and in community choirs. In her late 20s, she discovered the community singing movement and felt a deep alignment with this simple and direct pathway to connection and healing. After collecting a wide library of songs from the midwest to the pacific coast, she has been leading community song circles regularly since 2020. Joanna has recently relocated to the land of her maternal grandmother’s people outside of Asheville, NC where in addition to leading singing & grief-tending, she is deepening her understanding of the body’s innate wisdom for healing with Somatic Experiencing International, and is studying collective trauma integration & facilitation with Thomas Hübl.

    Sharing Info: You are welcome to share/teach the song in community settings, and Joanna always welcomes financial support when it is available. Please contact her for recording and/or performing permission.

    Links: 
    Listen on Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/joannalawslandis
    Would love to hear from you via email: joannalawslandis@gmail.com
    Follow my Grief Tending offerings on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/o/joanna-laws-landis-amp-will-rogers-30189070512
    Donations gratefully received on PayPal or Venmo @joannalawslandis    ​

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, minor with an occasional major 7, 2 part song; 2nd part 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

    140. The Feast with Guest Heidi Wilson

    2:2 Abundance Be Grateful Be Present Celebrate Earth Enough Fire Generosity Harvest Holy Ribbon Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Unison Song Form: Unison With Separate Harmony Line Songwriter Conversation Sun Water
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:00
    Start time of reprise: 01:01:08

    ​Lyrics:

    Holy Fire in the sun
    Water in the river, and Wind within my lungs
    Oh holy Earth beneath my feet
    All of us are offerings and also at the feast
    Picture
    Song: The Feast
    Music by: Heidi Wilson

    ​Notes: A lively songwriter conversation about gratitude, helping, useful questions, tending a group, getting traction with things we're passionate about, collaboration, caves & crankies and so much more! Heidi shares The Feast -- a gratitude song that intermingles the elements and us, and we get a special glimpse of 7-year-old Heidi songwriting and going big.

    Songwriter Info: Heidi Wilson has a passion for sharing songs in service to community and the wild world; songs that celebrate the seasons, bring groups together, offer thanks, muster courage, and make room for healing. She is drawn to the potent and surprising journey of deep-listening and collaborative emergent music making. Heidi has been leading community singing groups in Vermont for the last 15 years and currently sings with the vocal trio Heartwood.

    Sharing Info: Heidi says: "    I’m on an ongoing journey figuring out how to share songs (that feel like generous gifts from the world) while also making a living as a songweaver. I am happy for the songs coming through me to be shared! If people are singing them in informal, community, or ritual settings that’s awesome, sing away! If people are sharing them in a setting where they are making a bunch of money or there is a budget for educational/repertoire materials and they are able to pass some of those resources my way I appreciate that. I would feel good about that reciprocity coming in the form of a one time donation, or by joining me on Patreon and supporting my songweaving work at any monthly level. And if you are interested in recording any of these songs let’s talk!

    Looking for recordings of more songs? I mostly share music through Patreon, an online platform to support artists. On my Patreon site I’ve posted 80+ songs. Each post has downloadable practice recordings of the harmony parts. And through Patreon I also link to a spreadsheet where the songs are organized into categories, so you can listen through and find just the right song for Spring, or Gratitude, or Trees."
    ​
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:00
    Start time of reprise: 01:01:08

    Links: 
    Heidi's Website: www.heidiannwilson.com
    Heidi's Patreon: www.patreon.com/HeidiWilson
    Heartwood Trio's Website: www.Heartwoodtrio.com
    Sarina Partridge's Website: www.sarinapartridge.com
    Heinavankar: Songs of Olden Times -Estonian Folk Hymns and Runic Songs: https://www.discogs.com/release/17138368-Heinavanker-Songs-Of-Olden-Times-Estonian-Folk-Hymns-And-Runic-Songs

    Nuts & Bolts: 2:2, Aeolian, (harmonic minor in the harmonies), unison harmonized optionally

    Join the A Breath of Song Mailing list
    (https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share)  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
    (https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html) (whoo-hoo!!!!), or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!
  • Published on

    137. Kick Up Your Heels!

    4:4 Abundance Be Present Celebrate Empower Gather Generosity Grow Heart Hope Joy Light Love Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Round Uptempo
    Song Learning Time Stamps: 
    Start time of teaching:  00:03:37
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:34
    Lyrics:
    Sometimes you just gotta,
    gotta celebrate,
    kick up your heels and
    dance!
    ​
    Sometimes you just gotta,
    gotta celebrate,
    spread your wings and
    lift your hands…

    High yo-dn (4x)
    High!
    Ah ah ah ah
    un-day-i-o.
    (2x)
    Picture
    Song: Kick Up Your Heels!
    ​Music: ​Patricia Norton

    ​Notes:     You know how sometimes happiness just bubbles up inside you and it feels like the world is unbelievably sweet? And then maybe, you get a little voice that says, "If you notice it, it's gonna disappear!" Or, "Don't be too happy, it attracts bad luck!" Or any other little fear message that says it's not okay to be purely happy for a moment? This song was my way of letting that go, dancing crazy around my living room and kitchen, lifting my hands high, high and releasing into the glow! On February 24th, 2024, A Breath of Song reached 51.5k downloads and we opened registration for our first-ever retreat... and we sang this song in a crowded Zoom room to celebrate big.

    Songwriter Info: In addition to hosting this podcast and an online singing program, Pocket Songs, Patricia is excited to be developing an in-person community singing program in Burlington, Vermont. You can find more details about that at the Juneberry Music site. Patricia believes in singing as a part of vibrant well-being, experiencing wholeness, courage, connection and joy along with brokenness, fear, loneliness, and despair... trusting the whole messy catastrophe! She lives with her long-time beloved, Tom, in a small townhouse close to their daughter's family (the better to play with their grand). Patricia reads widely, and also spends time exploring the natural world on these Abenaki lands, knitting, and reluctantly strength-training.

    Sharing Info:  You are welcome to share this song; please contact Patricia directly for sheet music or permission to record or perform. She always appreciates hearing about how the song travels.

    Song Learning Time Stamps: 
    Start time of teaching:  00:03:37
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:34

    Links: 
    Patricia's Website: https://www.juneberrymusic.com
    A Breath of Song on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/juneberrymusic
    A Breath of Song on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abreathofsongpodcast

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, aeolian with some chromaticism, round
    ​
    Join the A Breath of Song Mailing list
    (https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share) 
    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!!!!)
    (https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html)
    or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!    ​
  • Published on

    121. Make Good Trouble

    3 Layer 4:4 Be Present Celebrate Change Determination Empower Fire Grow Hope Journey Justice Ribbon Scale: Dorian Song Form: Harmonized
    Song: Make Good Trouble
    Music: Elizabeth Melvin
    Lyrics

    Part 1:
    Stand up and make good trouble
    Speak up and make good trouble
    Get up and make good trouble
    Rise up and make good trouble

    Part 2:
    Never, ever be afraid
    to make some noise, make some noise

    Part 3:
    This is the struggle,
    the struggle of a lifetime
    (Make good trouble)
    ​
    Picture
    Notes: John Lewis says bluntly, "Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part." Elizabeth gives us an equally blunt, strong song inspired by the life and words of John Lewis, reminding us to be unafraid to make the noise that needs to be made -- to stand up, and make good trouble -- to not give up because change doesn't come quickly, but rather see it as a lifetime struggle. I share all the parts together eventually, but you could pick and choose to sing only one or two of the parts, depending on which you needed. You'll hear some chromatic notes (close together in pitch) in one of the parts, which create some lively harmonies. I teach it at a slightly slower tempo, then put all the parts together a little faster -- you can see which speed feels best in you!

    Songwriter Info: Elizabeth Melvin holds a deep belief in the power of music to provide transformative, joyous experiences on the individual and community level. She brings a lifetime of study and performance in world music to her work as a choir director and song leader. A multi-instrumentalist, she has performed on marimba, keyboards and percussion in a wide variety of genres. She is the founding director of The Freedom Choir, a 60-voice world music community choir in Annapolis, MD. During the height of the pandemic she led the weekly Rise and Sing online community sing featuring guest song leaders from the U.S., Canada, Europe and Africa. Elizabeth is a graduate of the Community Choir Leadership Training in Victoria, B.C., Canada. She has led vocal music workshops around the East Coast and Canada and is passionate about helping everyone find their voice and claim their birthright to sing.

    ​Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups. Please contact Elizabeth Melvin if you plan to perform, record or film it with a choral ensemble and she requests that you/your group make a donation to any social justice or voting rights non-profit of your choice in honor of John Lewis. When using this song and the YouTube video (produced by Lea Morris) in a worship or educational setting, please purchase a license at https://www.hopesingseternal.me/songs/makegoodtrouble The license includes the YouTube video, mp3 & mp4 learning tracks and a score.

    Links: 
    Elizabeth's choir Website: https://www.thefreedomchoir.com
    The Freedom Choir on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFreedomChoir
    Elizabeth's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@rhythmsis
    Elizabeth's Instagram: @liberateyourvoice
    ​YouTube Video of Make Good Trouble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nGomUt8gLQ

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:58
    Start time of reprise: 00:14:52
    ​​
    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Dorian (ish), 3 layer, 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

    117. September Round

    4:4 Autumn Beauty Celebrate Change Cycles Earth Gather Grow Harvest Journey Peace Release Scale: Dorian Song Form: Round Summer Trees
    Song: September Round
    Music: Catherine Young
    Lyrics:

    Summer’s over; it’s September
    Leaves turn to red and gold,
    Green leaves—remember
    Gather all your colors in a fine silk thread
    Weave all your colors in your leafy bed.
    Summer’s over
    ​Summer’s over
    Picture
    Notes: Catherine Young, a poet deeply rooted in the Driftless region of Wisconsin, USA, gives us a wistful melody in the ancient Dorian mode -- a minor scale that has a beautiful, lifted sixth degree that gives it a particular flavor you'll come to know well by singing this with me. In the northern hemisphere, fall is upon us -- the equinox approaching -- and this song carries with it the beauty of this time, and the grief of letting go of summer. I teach the melody first, just letting my mouth form shapes to really get to know this beautiful tune -- you can create your own shapes, and then round it with me, or on your own -- or stay with the original melody. So many options!

    Songwriter Info: Catherine Young is a writer and performing artist whose work is infused with a keen sense of place. She is author of the ecopoetry collection Geosmin and the environmental memoir Black Diamonds. Her weekly podcast Landward:Readings of Place and Season is available online from WDRT. Rooted in farm life, Catherine lives with her family in Wisconsin's Driftless Area where she is totally in love with meandering streams. She holds concern for water and deeply believes in the use of story and art as tools for transforming the world.

    ​Sharing Info: Yes -- The song is free to share but Catherine always welcome financial and/or networking support. Please contact her to purchase sheet music.

    Links: 
    "September Round" is from the song almanac Rounding the Year which can be purchased in print or as pdf from Catherine: catherineyoungwriter@gmail.com
    You can also request to be put on her mailing list.
    For writings and recordings, visit Catherine's website: http://www.catherineyoungwriter.com/
    Podcasts: https://wdrt.org/landward/
    Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/catherineyoungwriter 

    Live online international book launch conversation for her book Black Diamonds: a Childhood Colored by Coal.
    Thursday, September 28, 2023 6 PM Central Time (7pm eastern).
    LINK FOR EVENT:     https://www.crowdcast.io/c/black-diamonds

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:53
    Start time of reprise: 00:17:53
    ​​
    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Dorian, 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

    111. Abundant Lughnasadh

    3:4 Abundance Celebrate Change Cycles Earth Enough Flow Friendship Gather Generosity Harmony Harvest Light Scale: Aeolian (minor) Seasons Song Form: Harmonized Summer
    Song: Abundant Lughnasadh
    ​Music:     Flora Ware
    Lyrics

    As summer is waning
    the harvests begin
    we're breaking bread
    with kith and kin

    Abundance is ours
    if we all share
    living in harmony
    showing we care

    ​Lughnasadh... Lughnasadh... (repeated)
    Picture
    Notes: Abundance, gratitude -- words that can be so annoying when you're feeling scarcity and lack -- I think part of the reason for traditional festivals was to smush us together with other people who were celebrating so that we can't help but feel a bit of a lift, a bit of a reminder that oh, yes, there is plenitude in the world, and food tastes good, and even better with loved ones around us. I'm grateful to Flora Ware for her entire collection of chants for the year... grateful to you for singing with me -- to my mind, that makes us kith, and I'm so glad to celebrate abundance with kith and kin through this song.

    Songwriter Info: Flora Ware is a Sacred Sound Priestess and founder of EarthSong Temple where she serves a global community through ceremony, singing circles, and earth magic. As a Vocal Coach, she helps spiritual entrepreneurs become confident speakers and get booked on podcasts and stages, so they can attract more clients and share their message with the world. In 1993, her mother brought 14-year-old Flora to a full moon women’s circle. She remembered she was a Celtic witch and has been on a spiritual path of devotion to the Divine Feminine ever since. She lives in Vernon, BC, Canada with her wife and young wizard-in-training.

    ​Sharing Info: Please sing and share! Flora has a free lyric booklet for all her Wheel of the Year chants available to download from her website (very helpful when teaching a group).

    Links: 
    Flora's Website: https://floraware.ca
    Flora's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flora_ware/

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:09
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:47
    ​​
    Nuts & Bolts: 3:4, Aeolian, unison with 3-part harmony chorus

    ​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!​