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    42. Be Safe, My Love

    4:4 Be Present Calm Gratitude & Trust Heal Protection & Presence Release Rest Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Tend Trust
    Song Be Safe, My Love
    Music & Words by Juliana Murphy.
    Music inspired by the traditional song, "Katie Dear",
    ​and words by a passage in Diana, Herself by Martha Beck.
    Lyrics
    Be safe, my love; be well, my dear one.
    Live in joy and peace, my sweet friend.
    For we are here, we are awakened;
    ​fear no more, and take your rest.
    Picture
    Notes: Creativity is so often the process of connecting disparate things in a new way. Juliana Murphy crafted this sweet, reassuring wish for safety, wellness, and fearlessness by combining a text from a modern-day fable of awakening with a folk song that came with disturbing, murderous lyrics. She adjusted both and ended up with a song that to me, at least, sits easily in the voice, and lightly on the spirit. I can send this wish to myself, family members, friends, or strangers. I don't take "awakened" to be a politically-angsty, aggressive kind of "wokeness", but rather an eyes-opened kind of awareness and presence that lets me register the world immediately around me. As always, you get to take this song and make it your own now -- what is it that you wish for yourself and those around you that is actually already true? How much fear can we release as we sing?

    Songwriter Info: Juliana Murphy (she/her) comes to the circle with a lifelong love of singing and a library of original and collected songs that connect us to ourselves, nature, and the cycles and rhythms of being a human on this planet. She brings a deep desire to sing a more beautiful, inclusive, loving, sustainable, and delightful world into being. Juliana co-leads the Tucson Community Song Circle and is a graduate of the Littlebird Songleader Flight School for community songleading.

    Links: 
    Juliana's blogpost about this song, with her recording: ​Be Safe, My Love — juliana murphy
    Juliana's website: https://www.julianamurphy.com/waking-lullabies
    Instagram: @wakinglullabies

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Major,  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

    41. I Am the Calm

    2:2 Be Present Calm Gather Gratitude & Trust Protection & Presence Rest Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Song Form: Layer Tend Trust
    Song I Am the Calm
    Music & Words​ by Carole Marie Downing, 
    additional harmony by Patricia Norton
    Lyrics
    I am the calm in the eye of the storm, come to center. 
    I am the calm in the eye of the storm, take a breath. 
    I am the calm in the eye of the storm, come to center. 
    I am the calm in the eye of the storm you can rest. 
    I am the calm. 

    ​I am the calm, you are the calm, we are the calm.
    Picture
    Notes: As we prepare to leave our home of 22 years and shift to a new kind of community for us, let me tell you, this song is proving useful! As I sort belongings, as inspections get scheduled... and spring begins to rise, and world news swirls, and how to responsibly bring people together is still confusing and uncertain... something sweet, short and simple that I can repeat to myself, exchanging the words "It's all falling apart! I can't do this!" with "I am the calm in the eye of the storm..." is a huge gift I give myself with tenderness and with strength. Carole Marie wrote it in the early days of the pandemic, when even yoga practice felt overwhelming -- she could sing this to herself on her mat and take a breath. I think it is aging well, holding that kind of unpanicked settling effect that lets us function through it all. And while I sincerely hope you don't need this song right now, if you learn it this week, it will be snugged into your heart for any moment in the future when it becomes useful!

    Songwriter Info: Carole Marie Downing is a songleader, music guide, and facilitator committed to sparking joy and creating connection in times of transition and change. She leads 'Simply Singing', a monthly community song circle and facilitates workshops and retreats integrating music with writing. As a music guide, she teaches introductory ukulele and guitar with a passion for supporting beginners to trust and nurture their innate musicality. Carole Marie lives in Portland, Oregon and finds inspiration for music and life in the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

    Links: Find Carole Marie in any of these places!
    Website: https://www.tunetojoy.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TunetoJoy
    Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/tunetojoymusic/

    Nuts & Bolts: 2:2, Major, 2-layers, one 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

    39. Stand In That River

    6:8 Calm Change Flex Gather Gathering & Welcome Gratitude & Trust Grieve Hope Praise & Wonder Protection & Presence Release Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Tend Water
    Song: Stand In That River
    Words & Music​ by Moira Smiley
    Lyrics
    Chorus: Come and stand in that river, Current, gentle and slow,
    Send your troubles down water, Down on that water flow.

    1. When you stand in that river, Angels sing in your head.
    Secrets beyond every worry. Dreams beyond every dread.
    Picture
    Notes: Okay, I procrastinated on recording this episode for the longest of any song yet... I respect Moira so much, and I desperately wanted to share her song in a beautiful way that convinced you to love it, too. I felt like I wasn't good enough, and I got a good run of the whole imposter syndrome going, yada, yada, yada. But you know what shifted? I remembered why this podcast exists -- to share songs that help me heal, adapt, and grow, so you can sing them, too. And this song is one that I've sung to myself over and over in the middle of troubling times to help me release and let go. When I sing this into myself, I can see more clearly which actions might be mine to make next. And when the world is in turmoil, this is what helps me navigate a way forward. None of us (myself included) need to have a stunning voice for a song to be a companion... and I'm grateful to Moira for this gift. Please notice, I haven't shared the entire song here, only an excerpt... check out the links below to hear the whole song, and buy the music on her website for yourself or to share with others. Next episode: a conversation with Moira Smiley herself, who turns out to be absolutely lovely and generous -- we talk creativity, how rest is part of the job, how her voice has protected her, and more...​
    ​
    Songwriter Info: As a composer, Moira Smiley is known worldwide for choral arrangements like Bring Me Little Water, Silvy and originals, Stand in That River and How Can I Cry. Her music is sung by millions of singers worldwide. She’s credited with helping to bring body percussion into the choral mainstream and is in demand as a commissioned composer, writing multi-movement pieces including Time In Our Voices and In The Desert With You for the Los Angeles Master Chorale, evening-length secular liturgy, The Song Among Us and Tis A Fearful Thing for Craig Hella Johnson’s Conspirare and CVAE, Vonnegut Requiem: Light Perpetual for Voces Novae, Loud My Soul for Ad Astra Festival and I Have A Voice for ACDA Women's Choral Consortium. The European premiere of Time In Our Voices was performed by the voices and mobile phones of Ars Nova Copenhagen under the direction of Paul Hillier.
      In 2018-2019 Moira released the album and choral songbook, Unzip The Horizon as companion to her ‘The Voice Is A Traveler’ solo show. In 2021 she released the all-vocal social-justice centered album, In Our Voices with four powerful singers of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.     She continues composing and improvising in collaboration with artists in film, video game production, theater and dance, and her work can be heard on feature film soundtracks, BBC & PBS television programs, NPR, and on more than 70 commercial albums.
      “Moira Smiley is a marvel—an omnivorous singing and composing chameleon with a voice that can wail or caress at will!” -- Grant Gershon - artistic director, Los Angeles Master Chorale
      “Moira Smiley is a brilliant musician – an innovative composer and arranger, and a heartbreakingly beautiful singer. Her music transcends (and expands) boundaries.” -- Billy Childs - multi-grammy-winning composer/pianist
      “I’m so thankful I’ve had the privilege of performing and recording with Moira. She embodies the endless creative potential of the voice, and… (has made) a deeply moving body of work.” -- Merrill Garbus - Tune-Yards

    Links:
    www.moirasmiley.com for all info including sheet music, practice tracks!
    https://moirasmileysubscription.com/ to support Moira monthly for as little as $4/mo.
    https://www.instagram.com/moirasmiley/ for up-to-date personal and music pics
    https://www.youtube.com/c/MoiraSmileyMusic for official music videos, song and body percussion tutorials and live performances
    A beautiful recording of a quartet singing the full Stand In That River, part of "The Mt. Tom Sessions".
    Moira's own recording of Stand In That River with VOCO.

    Nuts & Bolts: ​3:4, Ionian, harmonized melody

    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

    37. Lead With Your Heart, Friends

    4:4 Be Present Empower Gratitude & Trust Heart Journey Power & Change Protection & Presence Release Ribbon Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Round Trust
    Song Lead With Your Heart, Friends
    Words & Music​ by Ian Carrick
    Lyrics
    Lead with your heart, friends, the day is unfolding;
    the way is clear.
    You already know.
    Picture
    ​
    Notes: I love the bloom of trust I can feel inside myself after singing Ian Carrick's "Lead With Your Heart, Friends" for long enough to let it settle inside me. I find myself relaxing, trusting that my heart knows the way already, that the day can unfold and I can follow it without worry or fret. It's a generous gift of a song, and I'm happy to share it forward... including all my mess-ups and squidgely tuning (highly technical term right there!) I figure the point of this podcast is for YOU to do the singing and take this song away with you, make it your own, let yourself sing it when YOU need to hear its message; let the breath and the vibration take you where you want to go!

    Songwriter Info: Ian Carrick is a songleader, musician and songwriter based in his hometown of Bend, Oregon. He aspires to be a sort of modern-day bard, telling stories of the land, tending the heart of his people, singing for life with rhythmic refrains and refreshing harmonies. Ian has been honored to lead singing for students of all ages, educators, homeless shelter residents, recovering addicts, corporate groups and grief ceremonies. He is thrilled to have released his first album as a songwriter and is excited to carry the ethos of community singing into the conventional realm of performance music.

    Links: 
    https://www.iancarrick.net
    Original songs by Ian for singing together can be found both at https://soundcloud.com/iancarrick
    and https://www.openhubsinging.com/song-library
    Listen to Ian himself sing this at Lead with Your Heart
    Ian made a sing-along-able album of family-oriented music in 2023 - Check out Earthlings streaming wherever you listen!

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Ionian, round

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:38
    Start time of reprise: 00:11:30

    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

    34. Possibility

    4:4 Be Present Empower Flex Gratitude & Trust Grow Hope Journey Open Power & Change Praise & Wonder Ribbon Scale: Dorian Song Form: Layer Trust
    Song Possibility
    Words & Music​ by Lisa Forkish
    Lyrics

    An end is not the end, it can be the beginning.

    Like a river, I flow.

    I am open to all the possibility.
    Picture
    Notes: I love a layer song which gives me options -- what do I feel like singing? Is singing low and warm feeling yummy? Or floating high? Or getting snuggled in the middle of a set of harmonies? Lisa Forkish's "Possibility" song offers all those choices, starting with a low, potentially gritty, determined line that says "An end is not THE end -- it can be the beginning." Then a fluid river line that requires some release to sing, as it flows among notes. Finally, when singing about being open, there is an amazing note on the word "open" that moves the whole song into a slightly unexpected place, giving a visceral experience of opening up to a different possibility. Love it. A song that helps me embody the knowledge of possibility that change brings.

    Songwriter Info: Lisa Forkish (she/they) is a queer singer-songwriter, community-builder, artivist, song-healer, and self-described "Love Warrior," infusing all she creates with fierce authenticity and heart. For the past 20 years, Lisa has been using song as both an expressive art and a tool for building connection. For Lisa, facilitating music spaces is much more than a job; it is a sacred calling. Lisa breathes humanity into their music and teaching with infectious joy and compassion, aiming to heal the wounds of music elitism and not-enoughness through an embodied, trauma-informed and heart-centered approach. For Lisa, Love is paramount and closeness is the antidote to cisheteropatriarchy, white supremacist delusion and cultural disconnection. Lisaʻs mission is to utilize music for personal and collective healing and liberation. 

    Links:
    lisaforkish.com
    wesingthebody.com
    www.patreon.com/lisaforkish
    Insta and Youtube / lisaforkish

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:23
    Start time of reprise: 00:12:56​

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Dorian, 3 layer song with 2 layers harmonized, so 5 parts
    ​
    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

    33. There Is A Love

    3:4 Calm Gratitude & Trust Heal Protection & Presence Release Ribbon Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Round Trust
    Song There Is A Love
    Words by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker
    Music by Elizabeth (Beth) Norton
    Lyrics
    There is a Love holding me; There is a Love holding all that I love;
    There is a Love holding all; I rest in this love.
    ​​
    There is a Love holding us; There is a Love holding all that we love;
    There is a Love holding all; We rest in this love.
    Picture
    Notes: What does it take to allow you to fall to rest, deeply & completely? Rest is such a necessary component of healing, and sometimes can be tricky to come by -- unless I'm the only one awake at 2 in the morning sometimes, with my head spinning fruitless circles? Feeling completely safe -- completely loved -- is one of the things that lets me rest, slows the adrenalin responses, and lets my body and mind heal. This song does that for me... whew!!! The composer, Elizabeth Norton, points out: "Please note that there is no "you" verse. This is because Rev. Dr. Parker was very clear that this is a widening circle of Love and compassion that embraces all." We are each at the center of this song.

    Songwriter Info: A life-long church musician, Elizabeth (Beth) Norton has served First Parish in Concord, Massachusetts as Director of Music Ministry since 1994, leading a dynamic adult choir and guiding a vital and varied music ministry for singers and instrumentalists of all ages and stages. She has led UU singers on concert pilgrimages to Eastern Europe, building musical bridges with Unitarian churches in Transylvania (Romania), Hungary and the Czech Republic. Beth received her bachelor’s degree with a major in music from Smith College and a master’s degree in choral conducting from Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford. As a composer, she has written several songs, chants and choral anthems that are currently available by contacting EHNComposer@gmail.com. Beth says she had the great wisdom to marry into the Norton family in 1986. Her husband, Peter, is Tom Norton’s brother. Thus, she has the great good fortune (again, her own words!) to claim Patricia Norton as her sister-in-law and friend! Beth and Peter have two adult sons, who live in southern Vermont and near Boston Massachusetts. Beth and her family share a love of music, hiking, skiing, and birding. She usually has a knitting project on hand.

    ​Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:02:52
    Start time of reprise: 00:14:45

    Links:
    The score can be accessed through the UUA "Worship Web" here: https://www.uua.org/worship/words/music/there-love
    Hear a roomful of people singing There Is A Love (and catch a glimpse of Beth!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlY7Yf-l8rU

    Nuts & Bolts: 3:4, major, 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!