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  • Published on

    180. Pearl in the Dark with guest Sarina Partridge

    2:2 3 Layer Change Darkness Determination Empower Future Hope Journey Listen Notice Ribbon Scale: Ionian (Major) Sea Song Form: Layer Songwriter Conversation Trust Water
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:34
    Start time of reprise: 01:30:39
    ​Lyrics:

    Part 1:
    I'm gonna dive deep, a little deeper
    Into the grit and the mud and the muck
    that I don't wanna see
    'Cause I think there's a seed,
    there's a teacher
    There's a pearl in the dark shining!

    Part 2:
    I will lean into this darkness, this darkness
    A seed is shining,
    there's a pearl in the dark shining!

    Part 3:
    Ooooh, shining like a pearl
    Ooooh, new leaves unfurl
    Ooooh, a new way is possible -
    there's a pearl in the dark shining!
    Picture
    Song: Pearl in the Dark
    Music by: Sarina Partridge

    Notes: Here's something to boost your "joy-ometer", as Sarina refers to it! We dive into infiltrating the health system with singing, stories we tell to make sense of the world, geysers of weird choices, singing to support community goals, cosmic bowling alley bumpers and more... and all that after learning a fresh song of Sarina's that helps us dive into the grit and the mud and the muck (when we choose to!)

    Songwriter Info: Sarina Partridge is a musician, song-leader and educator in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She feels most alive when learning, creating and sharing songs, and enjoys singing with a wide variety of music projects - Eastern European and Yiddish song, old-time music, community song-leading... and everything in between. Sarina has traveled around the world to study with master folk singers, and has toured with the traveling ensemble Northern Harmony abroad and in the USA.  She has a passion for connecting people with their own creativity and with community, and uses singing to help folks develop a sense of wonder for this wild world around us. Let’s sing!
    Sarina performs and teaches with several music projects/ensembles (Heartwood, Nanilo) and as a solo artist and educator; teaches at music camps (Village Harmony, Songroots, Folklore Village); and leads regular community sings and workshops in and around Minneapolis.

    Sharing Info: When sharing in a money-making venture, like a workshop, class, or performance, please contact Sarina for permission and rates.

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:34
    Start time of reprise: 01:30:39

    Links:
    Sarina's website: SarinaPartridge.com
    Sarina's Patreon: patreon.com/sarinapartridge
    Sarina's Bandcamp: sarinapartridge.bandcamp.com
    Heartwood's UK tour in March: https://www.heartwoodtrio.com/upcoming 
    SongWeavers retreat: https://www.singwaldorf.org/songweavers 
    Village Harmony: https://www.villageharmony.org/ 
    ABS episode with Kate Valentine: https://www.abreathofsong.com/episodes--show-notes/130-ride-the-storm-with-guest-kate-valentine 
    Mariah Carey: https://mariahcarey.com/
    Bad Posture Club: https://badpostureclub.net/ 

    Nuts & Bolts: 2:2, major, 3 layer

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:
    https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

    Help us keep going: reviews, comments, encouragement, plus contributions... we float on your support.
    https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html
  • Published on

    158. Quiet At First

    4:4 Be Present Birds Earth Gentle Listen Love Notice Ribbon Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Harmonized Wisdom
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:33
    Start time of reprise: 00:18:11

    Lyrics:

    It's quiet at first,
    this song of love
    for all the living things.
    But once you start to hear it,
    it's quite impossible to pretend
    there's something better
    you could be doing.
    Picture
    Song: Quiet At First
    Music by: Eileen Webb
    Lyrics by: Kai Skye

    Notes: How often do you get to sing with a thrush? Eileen Webb has made that possible for us... and so we get full enjoyment out of it, singing the entire song twice after learning it. The song itself, with words from Kai Skye, is a succinct reminder to drop in to that sensation of connection to all living things and how good it feels. What could be better? Recording this was unusual for me, because instead of loops on Loopy (where I just have to get it sounding right once!), it's layered tracks because of singing with the thrush... so I got to practice staying centered for the entire length of the song... not once, not twice, but three times plus a bit! It was really good for me -- so thank you for singing with me and perusing the A Breath of Song library -- I love the way my sense of responsibility to you keeps me in practice.

    Songwriter Info: Eileen is a consultant and facilitator who helps tech companies build stronger relationships within and across their teams. She loves how music-making helps create deep connections in diverse groups of people, and leads the circlesinging community in Portland, Maine.

    Sharing Info: The song is free to share, but please remember to share the lyrics credit to Kai Skye as well!

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:33
    Start time of reprise: 00:17:52

    Links:
    Eileen's Portland circlesinging group: https://www.meetup.com/circlesinging-portland/.
    Kai's art website: https://flyingedna.com/
    Note: For credit purposes, his NAME is Kai Skye, his PEN NAME (also his previous name) is Brian Andreas, and the site where people can buy his arts is Flying Edna.

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, 2-3 part harmony plus some extras

    Join this community of people who love to use song to help navigate life? Absolutely:
     https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/335811/81227018071442567/share

    Help us keep going: contributions at https://www.abreathofsong.com/gratitude-jar.html, plus reviews, comments, encouragement... we float on your support.
  • Published on

    155. Fear (Come to Me) with guest Joanna Laws Landis

    6:8 Be Grateful Belonging Breathe Empower Gather Grieve Harmonized Heal Listen Notice Release Scale: Minor
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:38
    Start time of reprise: 01:07:00

    Lyrics:

    Fear, come to me
    Let me hold you, hold you
    You, you are mine
    I re-own you, own you
    Picture
    Song: Fear (Come to Me)
    Music by: Joanna Laws Landis

    Notes: Joanna and I explore the idea of inviting fear to come closer and be held, through song and word. We talk about how gifts of attention can come from wounds, and therefore be mixed blessings. Joanna describes the "field" she tends in a song circle, and what craves special notice when you live and work with the same person. This was recorded shortly before the political change in the USA when Biden chose not to run for office, so you won't hear us talking about the buoyancy that can come from feeling hopeful... but we do touch on navigating grief and fear! We also talk about one of the huge gifts a group singing can give a songcarrier....

    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 welcome financial support when it is available. Please contact her for recording and/or performing permission.
    ​
    Links: 
    Listen on Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/joannalawslandis
    Email Joanna at joannalawslandis@gmail.com 
    Follow Joanna's Grief Tending offerings on Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/o/joanna-laws-landis-amp-will-rogers-30189070512
    Donations gratefully received on PayPal or Venmo @joannalawslandis

    Thomas Huebl trauma integration: Academy of Inner Science https://thomashuebl.com/courses/training-programs/
    Robert Frost - 'Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down.' https://quoteinvestigator.com/2021/05/24/poem-tennis/
    Bliss Is Ordinary podcast – the 4th & 5th episodes are with Laurence Cole: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1939735
    Laurence Cole: https://www.laurencecole.com/
    Laurence Cole and Ahlay Blakely are also hostingonline grief circles:: https://www.healingattheroots.com/onlinemonthlygriefcircles
    The Cranberries Everyone Else is Doing it So Why Can’t We?
    Soup: Jook…  A Chinese rice porridge with ginger and garlic & maybe chicken. Here’s a Mark Bittman recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1839-jook
    Lianne La Havas artist – Paper Thin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug3Q9RmFywc

    Nuts & Bolts: 6:8, harmonic minor, 2-part​

    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

    148. Oh the Rain

    3 Layer 6:8 Accept Be Present Breathe Calm Gentle Heart Listen Notice Rain Ribbon Scale: Mixolydian Song Form: Layer Trust
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:12
    Start time of reprise: 00:14:37
    Lyrics:

    1. Oh the rain,
    the rain it comes down,
    and it carries a world
    in its sound.
    Oh the rain,
    oh the rain,
    it comes down.

    2. Some
    times I feel blue;
    I’m
    gonna take a breath or two
    and soften,
    let my heart
    be tender.

    3. Softly,
    gently,
    let it fall as it will.
    Softly, gently
    tender, tender.
    Picture
    Song: Oh the Rain
    Music by: Patricia Norton

    ​Notes: Seems like being able to let things fall is my skill-du-jour. Rain, my feelings, other people's experiences... letting it come down and softening around it. I wrote this song during a week of incessant winter rain... and sang it here during a week of hard things to feel. Both times, it helped me be where I am. Songs that help navigate life. Yup. This is how we do it....

    Songwriter Info: This whole singing thing is just bringing me so much joy and growth and comfort... so grateful to all the people along the way who have helped me find my voice.
    ​
    Sharing Info:     The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact me for recording and/or performing permission.
    ​
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:03:12
    Start time of reprise: 00:14:37

    Links: 
    Juneberry Music website: https://www.juneberrymusic.com

    Nuts & Bolts: 6:8, Mixolydian, 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

    144. I Hear

    4:4 Be Present Belonging Friendship Gather Grieve Heal Heart Listen Love Mantra Notice Scale: Ionian (Major) Song Form: Unison Song Form: Unison With Separate Harmony Line Wisdom
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:09
    Start time of reprise: 00:13:20

    Lyrics:
    ​
    I hear my voice
    from my heart to my soul;
    I hear your voice
    from your heart to your soul.
    Picture
    Song: I Hear
    Music by: Aaron Johnson

    ​Notes: What I love about Aaron's song is how it is quick to learn, and then can be taken in many directions -- it can stay simple, giving a chance to listen deeply to one's own voice or the voices of surrounding people. It can be explored in many ways -- growing, soft, harmonies, rhythmic intense or free -- and for this recording, I had the privilege of listening to five friends learn it for the first time, and then let themselves take risks and explore. When making a studio recording, anything that didn't ring perfectly would be taken out -- but I've left the exploration in, to encourage you to do some of your own. Your voice from your heart to your soul. Listening to what it's saying. What a beautiful practice.

    Songwriter Info: Aaron Johnson (he/him) is a facilitator, public speaker, and touch specialist working to identify and interrupt barriers between people. As co-founder of both Holistic Resistance and Grief to Action, Aaron takes the time to hold the stories of black people around homophobia, transphobia, internalized racism, and those that are Chronically UnderTouched. Because oppression is a part of historical and present American culture, the long-term impact of those trauma stories should be acknowledged and held as a map for our collective healing. Aaron Johnson practices and invites various methods of moving through these stories, such as the communal listening ear, sound healing, meditation, and closeness to the earth.
    ​
    Sharing Info:     When sharing in a money-making venture, like a workshop, class, or performance, please contact Aaron for permission and rates.
    ​
    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:05:09
    Start time of reprise: 00:13:20

    Links: 
    Link tree: https://linktr.ee/HolisticResistance
    Grief to Action: https://www.grieftoaction.com/
    The Chronically UnderTouched Project:
    https://www.cutproject.org/
    https://bio.site/cut.project
    TEDx on Youtube: https://youtu.be/zi_hm0-zrgk

    Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, unison with option of adding 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

    126. Meditation

    6:8 Accept Be Present Breathe Calm Chant Enough Flow Gentle Grieve Harmony Heart Listen Notice Release Ribbon Scale: Minor Song Form: Harmonized Tend Trust
    Song: Meditation
    Music by:​ Neal Jolly
    Lyrics:

    The beat of the heart in the chest,
    The pulsing of blood in the hands,
    The in and the out of the breath,
    The here, the now, the you.
    Picture
    Notes: A vivid reminder of what it's like to drop into hyper-awareness of breath and body... combined with a song that makes me extra aware of breath flow (like, it runs out! ) Very satisfying combination. The harmonies also move in intriguing ways -- now close, now far, now drawing back together and intertwining. As often happens, I struggled a bit to release this episode -- it's not perfectly, exquisitely in-tune... and it's not a perfect, exquisite voice that's singing! But I remind myself again and again that the point here is not perfection -- it's good that you'll be able to understand the song and sing it, too... and carry it off into your world. It's good that I spent an evening singing a song that helps me be more aware of my breath and body. It's good that I got to gaze at Patty Piotrowski's artwork for this piece as I sang. This is just a darn good way to be spending my life... so thanks for your company in this practice of singing beyond perfection!

    Songwriter Info: Neal has been leading singing sessions in Cornwall for seven years. His style is influenced by membership of the Natural Voice Network and the sessions are non-performance, inclusive, mindful and with an ear to the spiritual/sacred in the widest sense of those words. Neal's songwriting is inspired by outdoor spaces where he does regular singing events, and being in the present: the only place where we can experience the world and each other.

    Sharing Info: Please share this song and make a donation to https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jollygoodsinging, the amount reflecting your own income and assessment of the song's worth to you.

    Links:
    Jolly Good Singing on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jollygoodsinging/

    Song Learning Time Stamps:
    Start time of teaching: 00:04:00
    Start time of reprise: 00:14:41

    Nuts & Bolts: 6:8 minor with harmonic minor moment, 3 part harmony

    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!