Song: Fly Away Music by: Becky Graber

Notes: Becky Graber really captured that feeling I get sometimes when I'm so uncomfortable, I want to simply fly away... when you are seeking something that feels trustworthy, and it feels elusive. I taught this in an unusual way for A Breath of Song, using solfege to identify the very different ranges of each of the four parts... you may find that useful, or not -- let go of anything doesn't serve you! Next week, Becky and I get to dig into a conversation with both of us here in my basement workspace... newsletter subscribers will see the pairsie (what do you really call a selfie with two?) As a songleader who started a chorus that has felt like mutual nourishment for almost 30 years, Becky has a perspective on group singing that is unique, and I really enjoyed exploring this experience with her.

Songwriter Info: Becky Graber has lived her life professionally centered around music and storytelling, teaching and performing, and a heart-drive towards healing and coming to centered generosity. She is the founder and director of the Brattleboro (VT) Women's Chorus.

Sharing Info: The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Becky for recording and/or performing permission.

Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:03:00 Start time of reprise: 00:16:44

Links:

Becky's website: www.beckygraber.com

Brattleboro Women's Chorus website: www.brattleborowomenschorus.org

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, Major (Ionian), 4 part layer

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Song: Radiate Music by: Lisa Piccirillo

Notes: Going epic this week -- we learn the chorus to Lisa Piccirillo's song, Radiate, with just me and the piano...and then when we're feeling solid, blow our socks off by singing along with her huge soundtrack! If you love the song, then there are links to find it in Bandcamp, etc, just below! I particularly love the way the word "radiate" is the most intimate in the entire chorus -- it feels like a world of confidence and self-connection right there... Enjoy -- I certainly did!!

Songwriter Info: Lisa Piccirillo almost gave up on songwriting, but the muse wouldn’t let her. The inspiration for her latest record came to her as a vision: the silhouette of a woman, backlit by the sun, alongside the word RADIATE. Fueled by this idea and the desire to reclaim her creative identity, Lisa devoted herself to daily songwriting sessions at sunrise and the new record was born. An unapologetically loud follow-up to her mellow and folky 2008 debut (momentum), RADIATE chronicles Lisa’s vast emotional landscape with her signature blend of vulnerable songwriting and powerhouse vocals.

Sharing Info: The song is free to share but Lisa always welcomes financial and/or networking support if/when folks are so moved.

Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:02:03 Start time of reprise: 00:13:57

Links:

Website: www.lisapmusic.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/lisapiccirillo

Tickets for Radiate Release Event Oct 19th 2024: https://tinyurl.com/48t8dna7

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7GJmGSN3Era6CJspcpMMY4?si=PFoGHPmUTQOVLYSJv0UlNg

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lisa-piccirillo/289758509

Bandcamp: https://lisapiccirillo.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lisapiccirillo

YouTube: www.youtube.com/lisapmusic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lisapmusic

Nuts & Bolts: 4:4, major, unison

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The Sunday after this episode is released, September 29th, 2024, at 4 p.m. Eastern time, there will be an online gathering of folk who use song to help navigate life -- and we'll sing through this Ribbon of Songs with live-looping! To learn more, click here, or sign up right now to join us!

Lyrics ​& Links to the original episodes for the songs in this ribbon.

Note: Angela Gabriel has made a melody change (which she can, right? Her song!) to We Were Made for These Times -- I made a new recording for this ribbon of songs, reflecting this update. If you click here, it will go to a teaching youtube video she created (which wonderfully includes the full lyrics...) https://youtu.be/kZfD7YbZJew?feature=shared

2. Put Your Roots Down

by Molly Hartwell

Put your roots down,

put your feet on the ground,

can you hear what she says

when you listen?

(2x)

‘Cause the

sound of the river,

as it moves across the stone

is the

same sound as the

blood in your body

as it moves across your bones.

Are you listening?

The title link goes to Molly Hartwell singing her original… but as she has given her blessing to the “telephone” versions that have travelled around, I am still singing (more or less) the version I learned from Lisa Littlebird in 2019…

99. Turning Wheel

by Lisa Littlebird

There’s a wheel that is turning,

calling me into my power.

There’s a wheel that is turning,

calling me into my voice.

It’s turning, we’re learning

to stand inside our hearts.

It’s turning, we’re learning

to stand in love.

I will not be silent.

121. Make Good Trouble

by Elizabeth Melvin

words inspired by John Lewis

Stand up and make good trouble

Speak up and make good trouble

Get up and make good trouble

Rise up and make good trouble

Never, ever be afraid

to make some noise, make some noise

This is the struggle,

the struggle of a lifetime

(Make good trouble)

86. We Were Made For These Times

text by Clarissa Pinkola Estés

music by Angela Gabriel

Don’t lose heart,

We were made for these times.

(3x)

Show your soul,

it shines like gold in these dark times.

Don’t lose hope….

Don’t give up….

The link goes to Angela’s own recording… Here it is as a podcast episode.

46. We Are The Way

by Christine Kick

Celebrate the difference, celebrate the distance,

celebrate the love, celebrate this brand new

way. We are the way.

We are the way… we are the way!!!

All night and every day

we bring the love, we bring the love.

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

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Song: Good Friend Music by: Jan Harmon

Notes: Both harbor and freedom, connection and release, seasons and timelessness. Jan Harmon's song, written in 1985, has generous space for harmonies, and impels us singers forward, as though we were the sail catching the wind. I love the feeling of holding and letting go as I sing this song -- it helps me grieve, helps rejoice, helps me open, helps me curl up... I wonder what you will experience as you sing it with me?

Songwriter Info: Jan Harmon (1940-1993) was a published poet, a writer of short stories and biographical non-fiction, as well as a prolific composer of choral music, topical songs, ballads, rounds, musicals, and instrumental pieces. She was born in Saginaw, Michigan and lived in many places from southern California to Maine.

Sharing Info: When sharing in a money-making venture, like a workshop, class, or performance, please contact Scott at Harmon Publishing for permission and rates: https://harmonpublishing.com/contact.php

Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:02:47 Start time of reprise: 00:16:25

Links: Song info on the Harmon Publishing website (including a sheet music PDF): https://www.harmonpublishing.com/jan/music/library/good-friend

Nuts & Bolts: 2:2, minor, round

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Song: The Ambulance Song Music by: Aimée Ringle "Ooo Love" part by: Laurence Cole

Notes: We live on a busy road, not far from a fire station -- an ambulance is not an unusual sight -- and thanks to Aimée Ringle, I have the perfect song to wish the people involved well... and now you do, too! Next week, Aimée and I talk about the tender place music is able to open up, how someone with considerable musical skills and experience finds how they, too, can be included in community singing... how we are what we repeatedly do, and what that means for Aimée. She is generous, vulnerable, clear-sighted, and willing to name her own challenges. I hope you can join us... but before that, please enjoy adding this song to your personal repertoire!

Songwriter Info: Aimée Ringle is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, song-leader, and storyteller. She has an invigorating teaching style that is enriched by her capable percussion and guitar skills. Aimée’s work as a song-leader and storyteller have woven her into an ever widening community of cultural shifters around the country in the realms of sustainable agriculture, alternative education, community living, healing, creativity, and spiritual exploration ~ all of which are reflected in the songs she carries. As a song-leader, Aimée’s work and example have become a valued part of several Ancestral skills gatherings including Winter Count, Spirit Weavers and Sharpening Stone.

Sharing Info: Yes -- The song is free to share in oral tradition groups, but please contact Aimée for recording and/or performing permission.

Song Learning Time Stamps: Start time of teaching: 00:04:12 Start time of reprise: 00:17:38

Links: Aimée's website: www.aimeeringlemusic.com

Aimée's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AiméeRingle

The Ambulance Song video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b6WxqtlIbo

Aimée's Bandcamp: https://aimeeringle.bandcamp.com

Laurence Cole's website: https://www.laurencecole.com

Nuts & Bolts: 3:4, Aeolian, 4-part

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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 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, or by making comments, leaving reviews, suggesting songs or songwriters (including yourself) ..... your participation matters!

The Sunday after this episode is released, August 18th, 2024, at 4 p.m. Eastern time, there will be an online gathering of folk who use song to help navigate life -- and we'll sing through this Ribbon of Songs with live-looping! To learn more, click here, or sign up right now to join us!

Lyrics ​& Links to the original episodes for the songs in this ribbon.

84. May I Be Open by Heather Pierson

May I be open to things as they are right now, because this is how things are right now.

Remember the breath, remember the body, ​remember the goodness that you carry.

55. Everything Is Changing by Kaitie Ty Warren

Everything is changing. Life keeps rearranging; and sometimes it feels awkward, but we cannot go backward. We cannot go backward.

34. Possibility by Lisa Forkish

An end is not the end, it can be the beginning.

Like a river, I flow.

I am open to all the possibility.

148. Oh the Rain by Patricia Norton

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.

139. Bend & Rebound by Heidi Wilson

Bend and rebound, bend and rebound ​Gentle strength of the willow is found

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!