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    21. Song Deep In Your Bones

    3 5 & 6 Mixed Meter Change Flex Gratitude & Trust Grief & Fear Heal Notice Release Ribbon Scale: Mixolydian Song Form: Unison Trust Water
    Song Song Deep In Your Bones
    Words & Music​ by Elise Witt
    ​© Non Si Sa Mai Music ASCAP
    Lyrics
    When you're feeling dry, there's water in the well. (4x)
    ​
    No rain from the sky, just a tear in your eye,
    all alone, far from home, you roam.
    Feeling tired, uninspired, like you're drifting away
    from your heart and the part you play.
    Picture

    Notes: I met creator Elise Witt online during the pandemic, when we were both in a course led by the extraordinary improviser Rhiannon… I was honored, because I already knew of Elise as a composer of unusual choral work that I had explored doing with my community chorus. In fact this piece was conceived as a choral piece, and Elise very generously let me excerpt a bit of it to be a pocket song. I love the way the rhythm wakes me up from an uninspired, tired place -- whenever I sing this, I almost always end up moving somehow. And now that I know Elise a little, I can see why -- her brain is the definition of fertile, and she exudes energy and joyfulness you can almost touch through her little Zoom rectangle. Elise says, "I believe that if we listen deeply, we can hear music in the wind, the water, the earth, and deep in our bones. And no matter how disconnected we get, that music is always there, when we are ready to return and listen."


    Songwriter Info: Elise’s concerts of Global, Local & Homemade Songs™ and her Impromptu Glorious Chorus™ workshops create and connect singing communities around the world. Born in Switzerland, raised in NC, and living in Atlanta since 1977, Elise speaks 5 languages fluently and sings in at least a dozen more. The Elise Witt Choral Series features choral arrangements of her original compositions and she recently published All Singing, a songbook with 58 original songs including music notation, lyrics and chords, stories and photos. In addition to her global touring, Elise serves as Artist-in-Residence & Director of Music Programs at the Global Village Project, a non-profit, special purpose middle school for teenage refugee girls in Decatur Georgia.


    Links:

    www.EliseWitt.com -- Learn more about Elise on her website

    "Song Deep in Your Bones" as recorded by Malcolm Dalglish’s Ooolation Singers in rehearsal at Yosemite National Park

    Live performance by Trumansburg Community Chorus, directed by Alice Ploss: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvDt89jsmzM&list=RDZvDt89jsmzM&start_radio=1

    Recorded on "We're All BORN SINGING" EMWorld Records 1012

    Available for SATB, SSAA, TTBB in the Elise Witt Choral Series

    ​Included in ALL SINGING: THE ELISE WITT SONGBOOK


    Song Learning Time Stamps:

    Start time of teaching: 00:02:38

    Start time of reprise: 00:12:47​


    Nuts & Bolts: Mixed Meter (5:8, 3:8, 3:4 or 6:8), Mixolydian mode, and in this teaching, unison.


    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.


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    15. Brave This World with guest Tembre de Carteret

    2:2 Change Empower Journey Open Power & Change Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Layer Songwriter Conversation
    Song Brave This World
    Music & Words by Tembre de Carteret
    Composed in​ 2020
    Lyrics
    Brave this world
    with your heart.
    Stay open and brave this world.
    Picture
    Notes Tembre shares her song that was created in a bathtub during lockdown, "Brave This World".  I learn it as she teaches it. We talk about free-ranging children in the natural world, cold water, slowing down, expanding, spicy sweet potato soup, how Tembre can SEE someone find their voice, Ireland, and more. Tembre has been leading group singing since May of 2001, and developed a beautiful online presence hosting "May We Sing" during the lockdown. She says, "Having an English accent and a French name growing up in a rural community here in Ireland was challenging at times," yet the strong connection she has to both the natural world and music means that Ireland has been a beautiful, nurturing home.

    Resources mentioned
    Tembre's website www.tembresong.com
    Tembre's daughter, Amelia on instagram, going by the name of DECARTERET
    Also find Amelia on Spotify 
    Joni Mitchell's Blue album

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:54 
    Start time of reprise: 00:43:16

    Nuts & Bolts: 2:2, Aeolian (natural minor), 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

    11. Dust Dry

    4:4 Change Empower Grief & Fear Grow Power & Change Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Zipper Water
    Song Dust Dry
    Words & Music​ by Patricia Norton
    ​Composed in 2020
    Lyrics
    Dust, dry, looking for *some water*;
    Dust, dry, my soul.
    Dust, dry, looking for *some water*;
    Rain down on us all.
    Us all.

    *zipper song; you sing the words you want here.
    ​If it's a single syllable, I often use the word "now" after to balance the rhythm.
    If it's a two syllable word, I use "some" or "a" before it.
    Some options: *a vision*, *some breath now*, *some justice*, *acceptance*, *some healing*
    Picture

    Notes: Written at a time when my soul felt dry and fragile in response to wildfires, drought, racial injustice, pandemic, climate and political crises... I needed a song that recognized how I felt, but could also call on hope, water, justice, breath, vision -- and a song I could bring to groups which could be quickly taught and singers could name what they wanted to call for themselves. I love the determination and sharpness I feel at the beginning, followed by a peaceful settling when the rain "falls down" on us all.


    Check out the home page or the shownotes to Episode #10 to join the "in-group" that gets a colorful, thoughtful weekly email.


    If you'd like to bring this song to your own groups, simply let me know at abreathofsong@gmail.com.


    Song Learning Time Stamps:

    Start time of teaching: 00:02:20

    Start time of reprise: 00:11:53


    Nuts and Bolts: 4:4, Aeolian (natural minor) zipper song with body percussion.


    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

    10. I Trust My Roots with guest Samara Jade

    4:4 Change Empower Gathering & Welcome Gratitude & Trust Grow Scale: Aeolian (minor) Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Zipper Songwriter Conversation Trees Trust
    Song I Trust My Roots
    Music & Words by Samara Jade
    Lyrics
    Verse: (usually sing 2 verses, then chorus)
    I trust my roots
    *to know where to go*     (3x)
    I trust my roots
    *to know where to go*
    down, down into the earth.

    Chorus:
    Down, down into the earth, intertwining with all beings,
    I'm seeing in every direction; going down, down into the earth,
    I'll send a message on the world-wide-web of interconnection.

    ​    Other verse options include:
    *to anchor me deep*
    *to reach what I need*
    *to share what I got*
    *to lead me to love*
    *to connect us as one* ("our" roots)

    Samara encourages songleaders to create their own verses to insert in between the **.
    Picture
    Notes  Samara Jade and I talk embodied intuition, the musical Rent, vocal health, names, mycelium, Moonshadow and trust... and Samara shares "I Trust My Roots". I sing along, periodically smudging the words, as I often do when I first learn a song (maybe you do, too?). A squidge of laughter, a dollop of wonder... it was a fabulous hour!

    Music referenced in the show:
    Cat Stevens, Moonshadow
    the musical Rent by Jonathan Larson
    Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon
    singer/songwriter Johanna Warren

    Songwriter Info A modern folk troubadour, Samara is dedicated to the art of listening deeply and crafting soul-centered songs that are medicine for the moment. Inspired greatly by the wild wisdom of nature and the landscape of the human psyche, her songs ride the crest of the unknown and balance between shadows and light.
    Coming from a musical background as diverse as classical, jazz, folk, Broadway musical and progressive rock, Samara stitches together a unique tapestry of sounds with a quality of musicianship distinctly her own. As heart-opening as they are intellect-stimulating, A fan once coined the term "Philosopholk" to describe Samara's tunes, and no one has ever described it better in a one-word nutshell.
    Samara lives in her van, Vincent VanGo, and is committed to sharing her song-beings around like thousands of spiraling maple helicopter seeds - which is, not coincidentally, what a samara is.

    You can find her in all these places:

    On Patreon: www.patreon.com/samarajade
    On Bandcamp: https://samarajade.bandcamp.com/
    On her website: www.samarajademusic.com
    On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/samarajademusic
    On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WildPamplemousse/videos

    Nuts and Bolts Zipper song in 4:4, Aeolian (natural minor).

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:45
    Start time of reprise: 00:53:15​

    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!