Since Passover begins this evening, here is a medley of two Hebrew
songs. Well, one original called “Erev Tov,” (Good Evening), and a
traditional Hebrew folksong called “Shalom Chaverim,” variously
translated as “Hello Friends,” “Good-bye Friends,” and “Peace to You,
My Friends.”
These are played on zither and Oriole (soprano) recorder, and “Shalom
Chaverim” is a 2-part round. I’ve named this medley “Chaverim Tovim,”
which means “Good Friends.”
I hope you enjoy these two pieces!
Have you ever wondered why some people exist?
Why do people harm themselves and others? Why does humankind, as a
whole, refuse to change for the better, even when we know–well–we
know it would be better? Why do we keep repeating the same negative
patterns, ineffective communication styles, emotional blackmail,
mental and physical abuse, and other destructive behaviors over and
over and over?
Why don’t we learn from our mistakes? And why do those whom we believe
“deserve” to be hurt, seem to come through without a scratch, while
bad things continually happen to “good” people?
I have no answers! Instead, *I prefer keeping in mind even the
possibility that existence has its own reason for being!
—
My 117-word response for
dVerse Prosery: Possibilities.
*— Wisława Szymborska, “Possibilities”
Since the beginning of recorded time, music has been used for
everything from war to peace, from love to loss, from inciting
violence to bringing healing.
Once music was a high art form and was appreciated as such; however,
it’s mostly considered entertainment in our society.
Now, I’ve done my share of performing and providing entertainment, and
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that!
It was fun, both for me and for the audience, but music has so much
more to offer!
Science and the medical establishment confirm the healing–not
necessarily curative, but harmonizing, restoring,
health-promoting–power of sound and music.
Service musicians use this to their fullest advantage, choosing music
that is aligned with their patients’ needs and/or specific therapeutic
or healing goals, not for entertainment or accolades, but to help
others with the musical tools at their fingertips, in their voices,
and in their hearts.
—
Written for
#SixSentenceStories: Service.
Perhaps you’re nervous, anxious, scared
Of where you haven’t been before.
But were you frightened to be born?
You did it, even unprepared!
Go down the hall, ascend the stairs!
Be gowned, bedazzled by the ball,
Just try again if you should fall.
Play out the play, and dance the dance!
You must move forward to advance!
And take a chance for Good of All!
—
Written for
Ronovan Writes Décima Poetry Challenge Prompt No. 50: (DANCE) in the D rhyme line.
This week I did something new. I wrote the D lines first, then the C
lines, and finally, the first 5 lines. It felt strange, but turned out
well.
Dependency’s a cold, rough stone
Around the body, mind and soul.
It keeps both sides from feeling whole;
When they’re together, they’re alone.
It strengthens stress and weakens bones;
The mind imprisoned, angry, locked.
The spirit broken and in shock…
Remove the stone! Let in the Light!
Take back your precious power and might!
Depend upon the Solid Rock!
—
Written for
Aunt Jan crocheted more afghans
Than my little hands could count.
A lady I called Nana
Taught me all the ins and outs.
And from a science teacher,
I quickly learned to knit.
But weaving suits me best of all,
A natural knotting fit!
—
A Quadrille for
Download “Mantle So Green” Mp3
You may be familiar with this 19th-century Irish tune, “Mantle So Green.” Perhaps you’ve heard Sinead O’Connor’s recording. It’s a song about a woman remaining faithful to her beloved, who went off to fight in a British war.
This is a popular Celtic harp tune, and today I’m playing lyre (mine sounds like a harp), with alto recorder and viola rounding out the session, as it were.
I hope you enjoy this arrangement!
Download “I’ve Got Peace like a River” Mp3
“(I’ve Got) Peace like a River” is a much loved African-American spiritual. It compares peace to a river, joy to a fountain, and love to an ocean. With its simple, repetitive lyrics and catchy melody, it’s an easy sing-along song. In fact, I remember doing just that as a child, singing around many campfires. I even played ukulele more than once to accompany the group!
I hope you enjoy “Peace like a River” on ukulele, viola, alto recorder, and lyre!
Crisp snow and cold wind
Give way to sunny birdsongs
Carried on warm breeze
—
Written for Ronovan’s weekly Haiku challenge at:
Ronovan Writes #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge 349 CRISP and Soft.
This is a prayer hymn that was written for, and is often still sung at Christian wedding ceremonies. Dorothy F. Gurney wrote the lyrics in 1883 for her sister’s wedding. In 1889 Joseph Barnby composed the melody most commonly heard today.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful hymn played on Oriole (soprano) recorder and lyre! Apologies for the sneezes in the background! You know what they say: “In sickness and in health…”
Mystical Strings 
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