softness can be strength 09/26/2009
new poem/potential song--still more on the theme of tests and difficulties, this time with a focus on the rewards... softness can be strength tear out the scars make room for clean structure with integrity soft strength in clarity tear out my heart re-weave veins and arteries built all new soft strength with receptivity i don't know i don't know beautiful mantra i don't know i don't know open to Your way loving being torn to pieces loving Your gentle hands molding me again from clay of love (scoop me out and fill me with) pure love make me new pure love make me You (it's the pain of birth of) pure love made anew pure love made from You pure love make me new pure love make me You making room for more joy 09/13/2009
My friend and fellow musician Elika Mahony visited my site the other day and pointed out that I haven't blogged in a while. One reason is that recently I have been going through some mental/emotional/spiritual tests, and I didn't particularly want to broadcast my struggles to the world. Now that I'm on the other side of this process (whew!), I thought I would try to share some of the fruits. I recently met a lovely cellist named Jesse (that's a whole other beautiful story) who has as her email signature, "The deeper that sorrow carves into your being the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?” ~ Khalil Gibran I think this quote captures the essence of my recent experience, and I am grateful to have gone through this difficult time, as it stretched my heart to ultimately make room for more joy, peace, and certitude. I wrote a song during the rough period in an effort to release some of the pain. I didn't finish it at the time, but tonight I filled in what was missing. Despite the pain expressed here, I wanted to end the song with a note of hope, so I decided to sing one of my favorite prayers over the chorus at the end. The prayer is by `Abdu'l-Bahá, and the words are: O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord. ...and here are the lyrics to the song: Freedom of Choice my heart is burning holes in my chest my mind is churning over this test i wish i could fast forward to when this will all be gone take the pain i'll take the blame take my heart break me apart take my soul just make it go away i can't go on [chorus] God don't make me choose 'cause either way, I'm sure to lose my heart is breaking in anticipation with undulating reverberation shaking, making me close in, to stop the din i give in i give in i give in i give in take me [chorus] [chorus with Refresh & Gladden overlaid] 'Fire' update 05/25/2009
So it turns out that 'What the Fire Is' is difficult to record. Ideally when recording, you record each track separately, to what is called a click track, which is basically a beat. Recording the tracks separately makes them easier to edit, and having the click track makes it easier to add other parts, either live or programmed. This approach to recording is not straightforward with 'Fire,' as the tempo is very free-flowing, so it doesn't work with a click, and it's difficult to record the piano and vocals separately. The recording this weekend didn't come out well, so I'm going to need to come up with a different strategy for recording... I've been practicing "What the Fire Is" in preparation for recording the piano and vocal tracks this weekend and for the performance May 30. It's coming along! I can't wait to share it with you. Hopefully we'll get a good recording of it this weekend, and I will be able to post it after its debut at Tiny Planet. working on setting new prayer to music 04/29/2009
I just love this prayer and have had the first two lines set to music for weeks along with some of the chord progressions, but I was stuck on the length of the phrases. I decided to try leaving out some words and phrases so that it would make sense musically. The prayer is below, and below that, my excerpted version. I am really excited about this new piece--it will be one of the most complex pieces I have ever written, and very dramatic. I know not…what the Fire is which Thou didst kindle in Thy land. Earth can never cloud its splendor, nor water quench its flame. All the peoples of the world are powerless to resist its force. Great is the blessedness of him that hath drawn nigh unto it, and heard its roaring. Some…Thou didst…enable to approach it, while others Thou didst keep back… Whoso hath hasted towards it and attained unto it hath, in his eagerness to gaze on Thy beauty, yielded his life in Thy path, and ascended unto Thee, wholly detached… I beseech Thee…by this Fire which blazeth and rageth in the world of creation, to rend asunder the veils that have hindered me from appearing before the throne of Thy majesty …. Do Thou ordain for me…every good thing Thou didst send down in Thy Book, and suffer me not to be far removed from the shelter of Thy mercy. Powerful art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou art, verily, the All-Powerful, the Most Generous. I don't have to keep it a secret any more! 04/29/2009
My best friend and producer, Kelly, is engaged to Caeli! Words fail to express my joy, good wishes, and prayers for them. They will make beautiful music together--and dare we hope...babies???!!!!!! How do you like my new website? 04/28/2009
I am psyched to finally have a website. What do you think? Constructive feedback appreciated. And...I will send a free CD to the person who writes the best bio for me by the end of May 2009! | Welcome!Stop by. Have a listen. Browse around.
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