a one minute play: with voice and shadows
I love creating music for ceremonies- this fall was full of them, weddings and house warmings.
With Thor Sigurdsenn keeping the drone on the cello, we sang our blessing for them, by the river, under the weeping willow tree, to celebrate the love that has no end. And, super-8 footage means we can recreate it here!
I’m imagining riding, wailing, whaling, fast on a boat over the ocean, long hair sailing in the wind.
Pleasure but a bit of pain, too. A wailing cry.
Where oh way, what a way. OHHHH!
A vocal improv here.
When I was about 10 years old, I fell into a love affair with Simon & Garfunkel.
This one always comes to my mind at the start of a new month…
Here’s a home recording cover of the song, with help from my friend Dan Bilich, on cornet and bass.
When I did Music for People program, one of our assignments was to record “one minute improvisations”. I’ve been returning to the form– nice and neat. Good practice.
(And enjoying this new app called, Acapella. Look it up & send me a collaboration!)
An activist friend of mine has this phrase in his email signature, so I would see it every time he sent an email:
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly, now.
You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
-the Talmud
I love this quote. It seems to sum up the enormous conundrum of being a human being - to bear witness to all the suffering in the world and the corresponding helplessness it ignites. How does one act, in a world such as this?
The Talmud points to a path here, a middle way. I created this chant to remember it.
features dan bilich on cornet and bass.
here’s the link of Soundcloud if you just want the chant.
Through singing, my skeptical mind has learned to be quiet and remain open to the prayer of song.
I learned this chant around the campfire at a Diamond Heart retreat at Asilomar, when our hearts and minds were full and clear.
I’ve almost worn this chant out, I’ve sang it so many times since then:
May my heart reflect thy light, Lord
As the moon reflects
the light of the sun
in love, always in love.
Hu Allah Allah Hu Allah Allah Hu Allah Allah Hu
This particular version was sung, to the moon, as a prayer for a friend who had recently died. She loved the ecstatic space of this song.