Muisc for the Lenten Season: Webber: Pie Jesu

One of the loveliest versions sung by Sarah Brightman and boy soprano, Paul Miles.

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The World's most beautiful music: Karl Jenkins' Adiemus

Dr. Karl William Jenkins OBE D.Mus.(born 17 February 1944), is a Welsh musician and composer. Jenkins was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honors list for 2005.

For the bulk of his early career, he was known as a jazz and jazz-rock musician, playing variously: baritone and soprano saxophones, keyboards, and oboe, an unusual instrument in a jazz context. He joined jazz composer Graham Collier's group and later co-founded groundbreaking jazz-rock group Nucleus, which won first prize at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1970. Later he joined the Canterbury progressive rock band Soft Machine in 1972 and co-led their very last performances in 1984. The group defied categorisation and played venues as diverse as the Proms, Carnegie Hall, and the Newport Jazz Festival.

As a composer, his breakthrough came with the innovative crossover project Adiemus. Jenkins has conducted the Adiemus project in Japan, Germany, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, as well as London's Royal Albert Hall and Battersea Power Station. The Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary (1995) album sold well enough where it topped the classical album charts. It spawned a series of successors, each revolving around a central theme.

The Adiemus series include:

Adiemus: Songs of Sanctuary
Adiemus II: Cantata Mundi
Adiemus III: Dances of Time
Adiemus IV: The Eternal Knot
Adiemus V: Vocalise

Information source: Wikipedia

This video recording features a live performance of the first movement of Adiemus IV: The Eternal Knot. Conducted by Karl Jenkins and featuring the vocal talent of Miriam Stockley, I found this piece to be both stirring and inspiring.

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Going Back to Birmingham

My partner, Steph, wrote this song today. It says it all.

His face shines with triumphant light, with faith and dreams and pride,
His heart beats with a fervent hope for all he feels inside.
He says that we are better than fear and hate and spite,
As he holds out hope for all of us to conquer might with right.

And he's going back to Birmingham to reclaim what he's lost,
He never minds the danger and he never counts the cost;
He carries on the torch of hope, although the flame's been tossed,
Yes, he's going back to Birmingham, the road already crossed.

***
Her son has never known the hate upon dark hearts ingrained,
She would not have him learn that now after all that she has gained;
A daughter of the storm's recess, her hope now swells unchained,
As she teaches him to fully live the freedom that's remained.

And she's going back to Birmingham to reclaim what she's lost,
She never minds the danger and she never counts the cost;
And she still dares to have the hope upon her heart embossed,
Yes, she's going back to Birmingham, the road already crossed.

***
Our voices rise in one accord, "Equality for all!"
We will not trip or stumble, we will not shun the call;
Marching on the Freedom Trail with hope that will not pall,
Believing that the path we forge will lead to peace for all.

And we're going back to Birmingham to reclaim what we've lost,
We'll never mind the danger and we'll never count the cost;
And we still dare to dream the dream whose flame will not be tossed,
Yes we're going back to Birmingham, the road already crossed.


Going Back to Birmingham © 2008 S.K. Waller

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I'm longing for the day...

I'm longing for the day when the arts are prized above mere entertainment.

I'm longing for the day when the word "intellectual" isn't synonymous with "elitist".

I'm longing for the day when the written word is valued, once again.

I'm longing for the day when recognition for great achievement is prized above celebrity.

I'm longing for the day when the quest for knowledge walks hand-in-hand with the quest for truth.

I'm longing for the day when sports celebrate human achievement rather than mimic human conquest.

I'm longing for the day when people are truly color blind.

I'm longing for the day when spirituality takes the place of religion.

I'm longing for the day when war is no longer an option.

I'm longing for the day when reason and enlightenment rise above mere superstition.

I'm longing for the day when love overtakes hate.

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Love is the only Truth

No one holds the corner on truth. Know that for every belief or doctrine to which you are convinced is "the truth" there is someone on the other side of the world, or even in your own neighborhood who holds another, perhaps very different belief with every bit as much fervor and conviction, and regards that belief and/or doctrine as "the truth". Remember that your mission in life is not to convert others to your truth, but to live out love, for love is the only universal truth.

~Lynette Erwin

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Internal Summer

In the depths of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.

~ Albert Camus, French philosopher and writer, 1913-1960

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Imagine

Imagine all the people living life in peace.
You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us,
and the world will be as one.

-- John Lennon

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Peace on Earth

The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit, and that this center is really everywhere, it is within each of us.

-- Black Elk (1863-1950)

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The Grammar of Gratitude

The spiritual practice of gratitude has been called a state of mind and a way of life. But we prefer to think of it as a grammar — an underlying structure that helps us construct and make sense out of our lives. The rules of this grammar cover all our activities. Its syntax reveals a system of relationships linking us to the divine and to every other part of the creation.

To learn the grammar of gratitude, practice saying "thank you" for happy and challenging experiences, for people, animals, things, art, memories, dreams. Count your blessings, and praise God. Utter blessings, and express your appreciation to everything and everyone you encounter. By blessing, we are blessed.

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The Winds of Change

The past two-and-a-half weeks have seen Steph and me beset with a whirlwind that has brought with it a season of change and transition in our lives, the likes that I've not seen in the nearly eight years since I was divorced. That's not to say that the past eight years have been a piece of cake, by any means, for every year, it seems, has been beset with its triumphs and challenges. It has been an interesting life. However, these past couple of weeks have brought a strange wind, that portends destruction, but rather, in its wake, is leaving the chance for a new start, a new life, and new opportunities.

I had a dream last week that I was sitting on a front porch of a house with my boss from the real estate office where I work. If you know anything about my boss, Grace, you will know that practically nothing alarms her. She's solid as a rock, and seemingly unaffected by anything. As we were sitting together sipping some tea, I looked to my right and about a mile down the road I saw a great, terrible storm cloud. It was black and churning and ominous, and it was coming right towards us. Alarmed, I turned to Grace and exclaimed, "Do you see that? It's coming right towards us!" In typical Grace fashion, she replied, "Awwwh...don't worry about it. We're in Oklahoma. We see stuff like that all the time." I turned towards it again, and it was even closer, and then suddenly a huge tornado fell out of the black cloud, and began consuming everything in its path. Then, suddenly, as it advanced towards us, it broke up into a bunch of smaller tornadoes, that kept coming down the road. What was interesting, however, was that although the tornadoes were consuming everything in their path, what they left behind in the wake was not destruction, but beauty! The sun was shinning, there were lush, green trees, fields full of green grass and flowers, birds singing--a virtual paradise. As the storm came closer and closer and eventually passed us, we were caught up in the wake, but we were never touched nor harmed, but left in peace, surrounded by all of this new beauty.

For a little less than a year, now, Steph and I have been intensely visualizing a dream that we have held since we have been together, and that Steph has had since 1994--that of moving to and living in Vienna. Around Thanksgiving last year, we were introduced to The Secret , and through the things that were revealed to us in that film, we learned about how living a life of joy, expectancy, and gratitude would open us up to a fuller and more abundant life through the Law of Attraction. Since then, we have been putting what we learned into practice, and now, a year later, we are seeing the beginnings of the harvest of what we have created.

I know that my blog entries have seemed rather cryptic over the last couple of weeks, and indeed they have been. As much as I would love to, I am not yet free to indulge myself in shouting from the mountain tops, just yet. That time is soon to arrive however. Let's just put it this way--there is a will, we have a lawyer, and our dreams of Vienna will soon be a reality.

And I am so very grateful...

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Reconciliation and Forgiveness

When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.


Catherine Ponder

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Thoughts become things

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.

Paul's letter to the Church at Philipi, chapter 4, verse 8

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Sing a song of thanksgiving

Laudate Dominum omnes gentes,
Praise the Lord, all ye nations(peoples),
laudate eum omnes populi.
praise him, all ye peoples.
Quoniam confirmata est
For his loving kindness (mercy)
super nos misericordia ejus,
has been bestowed upon us,
et veritas Domini manet
and the truth of the Lord endures
in aeternum.
for eternity.

Gloria patri et filio
Glory to the Father, Son,
et spiritui sancto,
and to the Holy Spirit;
sicut erat in principio
as it was in the beginning,
et nunc et semper
is now, and ever shall be,
et in saecula saeculorum.
world without end.
Amen.

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A gratitude-heart

A gratitude-heart
Is to discover on earth
A Heaven-delivered rose.

Sri Chinmoy

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Gratitude: the evidence of a heart made whole

When gratitude is this well established, it is a sign of a heart that has been made right and whole. Gratitude can't coexist with arrogance, resentment, and selfishness.

Dr. Alan Morinis

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The soul a blossom

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.

~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

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Abundant Increase

"You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you."

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~
Simple Abundance

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A season of gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

~ Melody Beattie ~

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A case for the nut cases

This is a response to a review of Mozartballs that I found on Amazon.com where Steph and I were referred to as two "plain" women seeking their fifteen minutes of fame. It has now appeared above hers, on Amazon.com.








As a member of the cast of this film, and one of the “plain women” who has enlivened my “dull” life by “writing herself into Mozart history”, I feel compelled to respond.

Although, for obvious reasons, I can’t give this film a completely objective review, what the previous reviewer failed to mention is that they are biased by the fact that they are well acquainted with the two plain women to whom they attach the motive for being in this film as that of seeking after our fifteen minutes of fame. I refuse to defend myself, my motives, my beliefs, or this film. They are what they are and the film is what it is, and only those who choose to experience this film with an open heart and an open mind will truly get its message. There will be those who scoff for various and sundry reasons. That is to be expected. Believe me, we weighed that fact very heavily before we ever agreed to be in it, but the accusation that we sold ourselves out for “fifteen minutes of fame” is rather judgmental indeed, and speaks more of the accuser than those who are accused. I would hardly risk my reputation and credibility, nor would I place my family and my children in a position where they could be embarrassed and humiliated for such a shallow and selfish motive. My motives came from a much deeper, even spiritual place inside of me, and for another to believe that they have the right or even ability to judge my motives, especially someone who doesn’t know me, (except for what they have encountered of me over the internet), is rather insulting.

I will say that Mozartballs was, for me, more about the experience than the final product, and it will go down in the annals of my history as probably the single most life-changing event of my entire life. What you see captured briefly in this film is only a fraction of what took place. It would be impossible for the writer, director, and editors to put into a film, even twice its length, what was seen, felt, and experienced by each and every member of the Mozartballs cast and crew. Larry Weinstein did a brilliant job, in my humble opinion, of presenting each person’s story without interjecting his own personal judgment or bias, letting the film speak for itself, and the viewer to come to his/her own conclusions regarding each character and their story. It is the intelligent and wise viewer who will dive into this film, quirky as it is, reserve judgment of its participants and their eccentricities, and look for how and why Mozart and his music and life has profoundly affected them.

In the end, I will quote Herr Rich, (the melancholy but delightful Swiss school teacher who was also featured in this film), “The world would be a better place if there were a few more nut cases in it.” That, to me, sums up the entire essence of what Mozartballs is about, and how, if we will but search a little deeper into ourselves, each of us would find our own quirky eccentricities and outrageous beliefs, and learn to celebrate them and allow them to shine forth rather than fearfully hide them from a world that is desperately searching for less conformity and more eccentricity. I know of no better way to celebrate the memory of the composer, who more than any other composer in history, bucked and defied the established system, was well-known for his eccentricities, and lived his life in such an outrageous and flamboyant fashion. Many of Mozart’s peers believed him to be a “nut”. Go ahead. Call me a nut case. I stand with an illustrious company.

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I'm loving this

Another quote that sings to me.

We are not sinful, shameful human creatures who have to somehow earn
Spirituality. We are Spiritual Beings having a human experience.

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