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March Music: From Armenia to Egypt; church bells, harp, and experimental folk

Continuing with a song a day: In March I listened to some fiddle music and Celtic songs; revisited a favorite modern song in Kangaroo Time; listened to a song popular in 1941, When That Man is Dead and Gone; listened to some experimental folk music including The Hu and Heilung; discovered some new to me artists, Nadini Blossom and harpist Nadia Birkenstock; and listened to some global music from Armenia to Eqypt.  Some standout songs: Laughing Girl, Jenna Reid When That Man is Dead and Gone, Lizzy and the Triggerman Kangaroo Time , Weli The Bells of the Big Belltower of Kiev - pechersk Lavra The Bird of a Thousand Voices , Tigran Hamasyan I really love Nadia Birkenstock's music and videos of her playing harp outdoors .
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February Music: Shetland Happy Tunes, harp, cello, and the wild outdoors

During the social distancing days of pandemic, I became obsessed with Shetland . I followed their tourism organization, read The Ponies at the Edge of the World and Shetland folk tales, and dreamt of standing on those wild shores. The uncertainty of these days seems similar to me, so I was delighted to find that Shetland.org has curated a list of Shetland Happy Tunes , which is so perfect for my listening project.  I have especially been enjoying Herkja Until We Become the Change and Laughing Girl by Jenna Reid. I have also been finding in my explorations what seems to me to be a new genre of modern music which incorporates traditional languages and older instruments and with videos that often feature the musicians performing outdoors in wild spaces. Bands from different cultures like Otyken , Russian-Siberian, and Wardruna, Norwegian. It’s like the opposite of industrial music. I love it.  I’ve also revisited some favorite instruments cello and harp. I love Zoe Keating C...

January music: Friends, cello, feeling elevated and loved

This year, I am listening a song a day as past of my morning meditative practices which often include reading and writing. I am picking one song to listen to intentionally (in addition to any listening I do throughout the day). I find myself often seeking silence or deep in my own thoughts.  The question I am contemplating: Could we not all do with more music in our lives? I am listening for beauty and connection.  I’ve been gathering some listening lists to make it easier to pick a song each morning and asking friends for recommendations.  For January, here are some of my favorite lists:  My friend Daniel Carr is a composer. https://danielcarrcomposer.com/  The Compassion Consortium shares a song at their services.  My local Pacifica Chamber Orchestra. My friends are big fans of KEXP . I have revisited some of my favorite artists and songs:  IAMX Everything is Burning   - They are amazing in concert. MILCK This Skin   - I listened...

Sensorium Thursday: Totally Awesome!

Taste: potato mushroom soup, hearty, gravy, savory  Sound: a din of friends  Smell: pine  Sight: a room full of friends  Touch: a large soft bed  Intellect, ideas, and dreams: playing games, learning games  Grateful for: friends, togetherness, a get away

Sensorium Friday: Indian food and swimming

Taste:  garam marsala, savory cinnamon Sound: her childlike exclamations  Smell:  rosewater Sight: Mom sitting by her lamp reading Prince Harry and listening to classical music which she describes as an anti-anxiety medication like-effect  Touch: swimming on New Year’s Eve Intellect, ideas, and dreams: tearing up because a moment is so beautiful  Grateful for: a table full of friends

Sensorium Wednesday: Happy New Year!

Taste:  cinnamon Sound: her childlike exclamations Waloyo Yamoni, “ We Overcome the Wind ” — Christopher Tin Smell:  chlorine Sight: Mom sitting by her lamp reading Prince Harry and listening to classical music which she describes as an anti-anxiety medication like-effect; rising steam  Touch: swimming on New Year’s Eve  Intellect, ideas, and dreams: tearing up because a moment is so beautiful  Grateful for: the new year, living in the future, friends