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  • Published on

    143. Love Stays

    4:4 Accept Be Present Change Cycles Flex Heart Hope Journey Love Mantra Ribbon Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Round Trust
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:44
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:20

    ​Lyrics:
    ​
    Change comes and goes, love stays.
    Change comes and goes, love stays.
    Life is filled with such mysterious ways.
    ​Change comes and goes, love stays.
    Picture
    Song: Love Stays
    Music by: Laszlo Slomovits

    ​Notes: Laszlo Slomovits gives us a sweet song of life transition -- and the love that stays constant as things shift. I'm singing through the end of a cold (I did edit out the coughing fit!) -- and it reminds me that one of the unique things about this podcast is that it's not all about me delivering album quality polish to you -- it's about you learning these songs, and taking them into your life -- YOU are the one who lets them into your life, singing them in ways that help navigate whatever you face, sharing them with others as you are moved. And all through this change that we are experiencing, love stays...

    Songwriter Info: Laszlo Slomovits is one of the twin brothers in the folk music duo Gemini. Besides his work with music for children, Laszlo has also set to music the poetry of the ancient Sufi mystics, Rumi and Hafiz (five recordings are available on the website) as well as classic and contemporary American poetry. He is also a published writer of both haiku and lyric poetry.
    ​
    Sharing Info:     The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Laszlo for recording and/or performing permission.
    ​
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:44
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:20

    Links: 
    Gemini Children's Music: http://geminichildrensmusic.com/​

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, 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
    (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

    142. Roadblock

    3 Layer 4:4 Be Present Change Determination Dreams Empower Flex Heal Hope Journey Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Layer Trust
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:33
    Start time of reprise: 00:15:05
    ​Lyrics:
    ​
    ​Part 1
    This is a roadblock, not the end of the road When I get knocked down, I get back up again

    Part 2
    I don’t care what you’ve been told
    Now is the time to take back control
    This is not the end of your dreams
    Life is not, what it seems

    Part 3
    Faith, Hope to Believe
    Faith, Hope to Receive
    Picture
    Song: Roadblock
    Music by: Debbie Nargi-Brown

    ​Notes: Debbie Nargi-Brown has written a powerhouse of a song, beloved by anyone who has gotten to sing it with her... it builds the energy to get up again, and again, no matter what the fall. Sometimes I need to temper this with the reminder to myself to be attentive to what I need as I'm getting up -- it can be done slowly, and that's still a getting up worth celebrating. At the same time, the sheer tenacity of this song, combined with the acceptance that life is unpredictable, unknowable, and our job is to stay in the arena -- I love this for all of that! This song has a potent backstory, as Debbie caught it shortly after her life partner had received a very frightening diagnosis, and they began the unpredictable, unknowable path of treatment.

    Songwriter Info: Debbie Nargi-Brown is a gifted community song leader, an award-winning dance teacher, and a talented songwriter, who resides in the Santa Cruz Mountains in CA. 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!
    ​
    Sharing Info:     The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Debbie for recording and/or performing permission.
    ​
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:33
    Start time of reprise: 00:15:05

    Links: 
    To listen or purchase her music: https://www.debbienargi-brown.com/albums/
    You can also sign up for her newsletter through her website to find out about upcoming retreats or follow her on facebook:     https://www.facebook.com/debbie.nargibrown​
    There is a great live version of Roadblock on her soundcloud page: https://on.soundcloud.com/gSDc2
    Debbie's music is also available on all streaming platforms now.
    Debbie also offers a great opportunity: Private lessons online!
    She says: Schedule a session with me if you would like help with: writing a song (this could be your very first song), finishing a song you are working on, adding harmonies or parts to one of your songs, strengthening your song leading abilities, teaching harmonies or multiple parts, connecting to your voice and feeling good about your singing, using garageband as a songwriting tool and/or to record your song. You can schedule a single session or we can work together multiple times. Each session will be tailored to what you want to accomplish.
    Email me if you have any questions or to book a session: dnargibrown@gmail.com

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Aeolian, 3-layer

    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

    138. My thoughts make a difference

    3 Layer 4:4 Change Determination Empower Heal Hope Justice Scale: Aeolian (minor) Song Form: Layer
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:07
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:50
    Lyrics:

    My thoughts make a difference
    My feelings make a difference
    My words make a difference
    My healing makes a difference

    I will not shy away from the struggle in my soul
    I will waste no time, for this day is growing old

    What can I do for this broken world?
    Picture
    Song: My Thoughts Make A Difference
    Music by: Chandler Yorkhall

    ​Notes: The energy and determination that this song funnels into me can be formidable. It steps from naming that our individual thoughts, feelings, words, and healing matters; next stop is a determination to pay attention to the struggle, because time is short; and then the question -- what can I do for this broken world? It's a vital progression and gathering of force. I sing it at two very different tempos (well, the second, faster one I don't QUITE manage, but, you know, I'll get better at it!) One of the things that stopped me from singing for a long time was feeling like I wasn't good enough, even to sing to myself, because I didn't sound like the albums I had. That's why I leave mistakes in this podcast -- I'm reclaiming my right to not be perfect, and the playfulness and energy that comes from that... and I hope hearing me mess up frees space for you, too.

    Songwriter Info: Chandler grew up singing with his family and can’t remember a time when singing wasn’t part of his daily life. He has been writing, leading, and getting inspired by songs since he was a teen, and songs have saved his sanity more times than he can remember. He is so pleased to be able to share his joy through sharing his songs. Chandler lives in Minneapolis with his wife and 4 children, who also love to sing! He's never really settled on a parenting “philosophy” per se, until his two teen daughters returned from their first Village Harmony camp, singing lustily in praise of everything good. At that point he said to himself, “Well, if my children leave my home knowing how to sing, I guess I’ll have done them, and the world, a great service.”

    Sharing Info:     Yes - The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Chandler for recording, performing, or publication permission.
    ​
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:07
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:50

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Aeolian, 3 layer

    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

    132. Hold Fast the Hope

    4:4 Belonging Calm Determination Dreams Earth Flow Gentle Heal Hope Journey Peace Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Unison
    Song: Hold Fast the Hope
    Music: Paulette Meier
    Words:​ George Fox, from Epistle #314 (1675)

    Lyrics:

    Hold fast the hope, that anchors the soul,
    which is sure and steadfast,
    ​that you may float above the world’s sea.
    Picture
    Notes: We play a little with the harmonies over and under this very singable melody Paulette wrote to set part of a letter written in 1675 by George Fox (it's been a minute!) He was writing during troubled times to a persecuted people. As I was recording, I kept wondering how it could feel to be both "sure and steadfast" and "float above"... the invitation is open to you to explore!

    Songwriter Info: Paulette Meier is a Quaker singer/songwriter from Cincinnati, Ohio, where her strong voice has led crowds in song at many a gathering for peace, justice and an earth restored. As a peace educator in schools, she produced an award-winning album, Come Join the Circle: LessonSongs for Peacemaking, now used in classrooms across the country to help children learn the skills of peacemaking. As Artist in Residence for 9 months at Pendle Hill, a Quaker Center for Study and Contemplation, her appreciation for Quaker history and spirituality deepened, leading to a practice of setting inspiring quotations of 17th century Quaker founding leaders to chant-like song. She leads chanting at the Wisdom retreats of Cynthia Bourgeault, author, mystic, and teacher of the contemplative Christian Wisdom tradition. This on-going collaboration led to a second album of Quaker chants composed by Paulette, Wellsprings of Life: Quaker Wisdom in Chant, on which this song can be found.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Paulette for recording and/or performing permission. When sharing this song, please credit the source: w: George Fox, 1675; m: Paulette Meier, on the album Wellsprings of Life, Quaker Wisdom in Chant.

    Links: Paulette's Website (order downloads or CD here) - www.paulettemeier.com

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:04
    Start time of reprise: 00:13:31

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, unison with harmonies

    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

    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!​