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    27. What Am I Rushing To?

    4:4 Be Grateful Be Present Calm Gathering & Welcome Gratitude & Trust Journey Notice Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Unison Tend Trust
    Song What Am I Rushing To?
    Words & Music​ by Wendy Luella Perkins
    Lyrics
    What am I rushing to, oh, what am I rushing for?
    What am I rushing to, oh, what am I rushing for?
    Slow down, slow down and savour.
    Slow down, slow down and savour.​
    Picture

    Notes    : I stumbled upon Wendy Luella Perkins a few weeks before recording this episode, when I was browsing in facebook groups of songleaders, looking for new music I loved and wanted to share. I heard "What Am I Rushing To?", and went hunting online to learn more. Several Soulful Singing sessions later, I can say that this intuitive songleader and gracious, gentle song and space creator has become a great gift in my life. Not only do the most beautiful, varied songs seem to pour through her with ease and fluidity, but she understands how to tend herself and those around her with laughter, loving-kindness, and acceptance.
      Wendy Luella tells the painful origin of this song in a time of grief and conflict... and also how she and small groups of singers have sung it in bus depots, shopping malls, and other public spaces in the month of December, and the delighted reaction from passers-by. Wendy Luella has always dreamed of having this song pop-up in other communities, led by other folks, so if there are podcast listeners who are inspired to offer What Am I Rushing To? in your communities, please do and let her know about it!
      It can be sung beautifully as a unison song -- and today, I add harmonies to it that were created by members of my family. Rebecca Csuy, Elyse Wadsworth, and Elizabeth Norton joined me in singing it over the American Thanksgiving holiday, and as we played with different harmonies, this combination struck me as particularly suited to the song.     It was magical, and gave me a way to imagine you all in the room, too... if I'd been really on top of it, I'd have brought a microphone and recorded us all together! 

    Songwriter Info: Wendy Luella Perkins has been singing and making up songs since she was a very young child. When she was three years old, her older brother, Tim, took her to school as his Show+Tell item saying “this is my sister Wendy Lu, listen to her sing!” She's been going strong ever since.  
      As a singer-songwriter, Unitarian Universalist community minister, and founder, in 2002 of Soulful Singing (singing meditation for all) Wendy Luella leverages the power of song to build authentic, healing and joyful communities. A prolific writer of folk songs and meditative chants and supportive guide who helps others to create their own songs, Wendy Luella's greatest joy is to bring friends and strangers together in the transformational circle of song. Wendy Luella has produced three CDs of original music, which you can find on her website.   
      As a response to pandemic restrictions, and recognizing the need to keep on singing in community, especially in difficult times, Wendy Luella transitioned Soulful Singing to online sessions in March 2020. Soulful Singers from all over have been gathering online EVERY SINGLE DAY since then and once a week on THURSDAY evenings. Everyone is welcome to join Soulful Singing via Zoom. 
      Singing daily over the last 600+ days with wonderful folks from Kingston and around the world has encouraged Wendy Luella to share her original songs more broadly in what she calls her “Song Liberation Project” (The SLiP). She has written hundreds of songs and with The SLiP is sharing them one by one on TikTok. 
       Wendy Luella grew up in rural Nova Scotia, and has lived in Kingston Ontario for over 25 years with her sweetheart and fellow musician, Charlie Walker. She loves waking early, walking daily, eating communally, crafting publicly, sharing deeply, gardening bountifully, laughing abundantly and of course, singing soulfully!

    Links:
    Contact Wendy directly to join Soulful Singing, or to let her know how this song moved you at info@wendyluellaperkins.com
    Find Wendy on TikTok and sing a duet with her! https://www.tiktok.com/@wendyluellaperkins
    Explore Wendy's website: https://www.wendyluellaperkins.com

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:25
    Start time of reprise: 00:13:55 

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, unison, harmonies optional
    ​
    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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    23. Falling Acorns

    6:8 Be Present Gather Grieve Power & Change Praise & Wonder Release Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Layer Trees
    Song Falling Acorns
    Music & Words​ by Joy Truskowski
    Lyrics
    Falling acorns on the ground, I am standing here
    We are here through the seasons, And we are always one

    And it’s time to change, And it’s time to grieve, And it’s time to grow
    And it’s time to change, And it’s time to breathe, And it’s time to let go.
    Picture

    Notes:     It's a generous mast year here around the Connecticut River -- another gift of the trees, our breathing partners. Joy brought this song to my Pocket Songs group in the fall of 2020, and it is much loved by the Pocket Song Singers. A thing to know about Joy is that she has an extraordinary ability to be present with the feelings of those around her -- and an incredible capacity for delight and kindness… as well as an openness to learning that is hard to have unless you feel confident about your own innate worth. There's something about this song that transmits that sense of one's own standing: present, and also willing to change. It is a TOUGH one for me to sing in tune!!! (Thanks, Joy!) There are back-up parts that remind me of my once-upon-a-time deep desire to be one of the Shirelles, and a sweeping melodic line for the first part, followed by a breathing, in-and-out line for the second part. I hope you find it as satisfying and affirming as I do.

    Songwriter Info: Joy Tru combines heartfelt harmonies with vocal percussion, electronic layers, guitar and flute to create unique, honest folk and pop songs evoking love and hope. She also leads circlesinging and creates live improvised prayer songs and soundscapes using a loop station.

    Links: 
    Joy's website: joytru.com
    Joy singing Falling Acorns herself:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFLvejDaz7E

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:43
    Start time of reprise: 00:16:41
    ​
    Nuts & Bolts: 6:8, Ionian (major), 2-layers with 4-layer background
    ​
    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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    22. When the Water Is Glass Calm

    4:4 Beauty Calm Cycles Dawn Gentle Holy Light Listen Notice Praise & Wonder Ribbon Scale: Ionian (Major) Sky Song Form: Layer Sun Water
    Song When the Water Is Glass Calm
    Words & Music​ by Paul Barton
    Lyrics
    ​
    When the water is glass calm, the stillness cradles life.

    The sun rises slowly, pealing through the trees, bringing color to the sky.

    Listen, ​listen, to the soft sounds of this new day.
    Picture
    Notes:  I met Paul Barton in 2019 at a Circlesinging workshop with Bobby McFerrin -- a quiet, gentle redhead with a warm smile, he was easy to like… and then gradually since then, I’ve been discovering his music, which unfolds itself the more you sing it. I live not far from a pond, lake, and river, all which I have seen at moments of glass calmness (although, truth be told, not at sunrise!) I love the way I feel calm and clear after I sing this song, which he says Stephanie Drouin helped write as they were visiting a friend's cottage, and had gone for an early morning paddle. 

    Songwriter Info: Paul is a skilled jazz guitarist in Toronto, Canada, who creates music for community singing, in his words, "because I want to use my creativity to help people experience the joys (and sometimes sorrows) of singing together. There is a growing number of people around the world who are remembering that singing together can be inclusive to everyone regardless of singing ability or musical knowledge. And, the focus can be on the healing and connecting power of music, rather than on 'getting it right'." You can find Paul leading songs at Fiercely OK and Sing for Joy song circles.

    Links:
    Paul's website, http://www.paulbartonmusic.com/
    Paul's teaching tracks and sheet music for When the Water Is Glass Calm.
    Fiercely OK song circles
    ​Sing For Joy Community Choir

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Ionian (major), 3 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!
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    20. Great-Full with guest Ishka Shir

    4:4 Be Grateful Be Present Celebrate Gratitude & Trust Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Layer Song Form: Round Songwriter Conversation Trust
    Song Great-Full
    Words & Music by Ishka Shir
    Lyrics
    I am here on this planet, living my life,
    doing what I do,     feeling grateful.

    I am here, this is life, I'm grateful.     ​(2x)
    Picture
    Notes: Ishka talks about music making while hiking and cuddling, the influence of her singing mother, the difference between singing alone and in large groups, kitchen singing, good food, how songmaking could be available to anyone, and why she sometimes says she doesn't like music (!) And in with all that, she shares this song which originated as a walking song, but can be used in many moods... and I get to sing along so you can hear how it rounds... we can imagine ourselves in the kitchen making a yummy fall soup, singing together.... feeling grateful.

    Songwriter Info: Ishka is someone who sings from their heart.  She has been making up songs since she was a child and has been sharing songs at community song circles since 2007.  Ishka integrates song into most aspects of their life which include, hiking, gardening, cooking, biking, and cuddling clients.  Professionally Ishka is a therapeutic cuddler in Asheville NC. Ishka is especially drawn to songs that have simple yet powerful lyrics and believes that songs can help us heal.  

    Links:
    How Could Anyone Ever Tell You? by Libby Roderick (this is a live recording of Libby's with a story at the beginning; the song starts at about 3'20")
    Aimée Ringle site: http://www.aimeeringlemusic.com/
    Lyndsey Scott: to find more about her, I'm going to direct you to Episode #16, which features a song of Lyndsey's and all her multitudinous contact info!
    Ishka's Soundcloud site- https://soundcloud.com/user-943187430  Ishka directly shares many mantra-like songs​
    Ishka's Therapeutic Cuddling website- holdmeavl.com 

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:36
    Start time of reprise: 00:32:55

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Ionian (major scale), 2-part layer or 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!
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    17. Ancient Green

    4:4 Be Present Calm Gratitude & Trust Grief & Fear Grieve Heal Protection & Presence Release Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Layer Song Form: Round Trees Water
    Song Ancient Green
    Words & Music​ by Kathleen Hannan
    Lyrics
    1. I lay under a tall oak tree,
    Asked the Goddess to shelter me.
    She wrapped me up in ancient green,
    ancient green. 
    (twice)

    ​2. All my tears,
    all my tears.
    all my tears,
    the river’s gonna wash away.
    (twice)
    Picture
    ​Notes: Kathleen says she caught this comforting song while lying on a huge rock next to the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, crying her heart out over a relationship that was transforming.  A beautiful oak tree was growing out of the rock, and as the song was born her sorrowful feelings washed through with the sound of the river, and she was left feeling whole, and at peace with the way things were. She also shared this story with me, "One time I sang the song in a show with a group of women drummers. Their teacher, a lovely African man, also played with us in the concert and rehearsal. After I taught them in the rehearsal and we had played it for a while, the African drummer told me that the song felt like an African song to him. That was one of my happiest moments, since I have for so long felt inspired by African diaspora music. And I did not really feel like I wrote that song... it just came through as a whole as I cried by the river." 

    Songwriter info: Kathleen has been writing, collecting and sharing songs for over 50 years. Her songs were awarded a North Carolina Arts Council Songwriter Fellowship. She currently leads the Bodies, Voices & Spirit Choruses in North Carolina and Maine, and is also a Dances of Universal Peace leader. She's a student of the Heart, and she facilitates The Work of Byron Katie.

    Links:
    Kathleen's blogpost & recording of Ancient Green with guitar, bass, piano, and drum. (So much fun to sing with!) 
    ​https://www.kathleenhannan.com/song-blog/songs-for-our-journey-26
    Kathleen's online presence: www.kathleenhannan.com
    Kathleen's chorus:     https://bodiesvoicesandspirit.weebly.com/
    Kathleen's song blog, which is searchable by title, subject or excerpts from lyrics: https://www.kathleenhannan.com/song-blog

    Kathleen's most recent CD is Seen & Unseen: Songs from the Light of Midlife
    Purchase CD here: https://www.kathleenhannan.com/seen--unseen-cd1.html
    Lyrics are here: https://www.kathleenhannan.com/lyrics--credits.html
    Photos from the recording process: https://www.kathleenhannan.com/photos.html

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Ionian (major), round with possible harmonies, or optionally could be taught as a 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!
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    12. Finding My Way Back To Now

    4:4 Be Present Calm Gathering & Welcome Heal Journey Protection & Presence Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Layer
    Song Finding My Way Back To Now
    Music & Words​ by Heather Pierson
    Lyrics
    ​
    I am finding my way,
    I am finding my way,
    I am finding my way back to now.

    Finding my way, my way now.
    Picture
    Notes Heather unified the message and the music in a beautiful way in this song, which helps the singer wind their way back into the present moment. As you sing the melody, you start on the home note, and then the different "ways" land in various places that are NOT the home note... until you get to the word "now", when all the voices together come together the home note. So you come back to where you begin, which is now. If the practice of presence intrigues you, this is a way to embody it, to make it a reality. I find this song both centering and gentle in the way it invites my mind to come back to now... and does it with such lilt and movement that it feels like a joyful process.

    Songwriter Info Heather Pierson is a singer, songwriter, pianist, song leader, and performer who frequently tours throughout the United States both as a solo artist and with her acoustic trio. She has released twelve CDs and several singles of her original music, ranging in style from folk to jazz to vocal chants.  Heather’s original community singing repertoire is inspired by the power of song to nurture harmony, community, connection, joy, and peace. She lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

    Find Heather in any of these places on the web:
    www.heartsongsandcirclesongs.com
    www.heatherpierson.com
    www.patreon.com/HeatherPierson​

    Nuts & Bolts 4:4, 3-Layer song with a harmonized 1st layer, 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!