Tag: heartmusic

Just to pick up on yesterday’s final thought… letting it go is so much easier said than done, isn’t it? I definitely love “letting go” songs, and while it would be easy to channel my inner Disney Princess Elsa and “let it go” Frozen-style, I’d rather share this gorgeous ballad by British singer-songwriter James Bay. I can’t get over its heart-wrenching delicacy. “I used to recognize myself. It’s funny how reflections change when we’re becoming something else. I think it’s time to walk away. So come on, let it go, just let it be. Why don’t you be you and I’ll be me?” I’ll keep trying. With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~

Listen here: Let It Go * by James Bay and Paul Barry * from the EP of the same name (2014)

Obviously today is St. Patrick’s Day. Not obviously, one of the most amazing kids in the world was born on this day eight years ago, and I had the surprise pleasure of being with his beautiful mom when her water broke and seeing so much joy fill her face as it all became real in that moment. This darling child has Jewish roots from Hungary, which is unexpectedly relevant to today’s piece. Also not obviously, one year ago today was the Irish Catholic funeral of another dear friend’s beloved father. I had the tremendous honour of singing during the service. Life…always up, always down, always everything in between. As a keeper of dates, this one’s an emotional stunner for me.

Coming or going, graduating, marrying, retiring, emerging fresh into the world or passing on into the next, these beautiful words of The Olde Irish Blessing should be gifted to everyone at some point in life. “May the road rise to meet you; may the wind be always at your back; the sunshine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

Denes Agay composed the beautiful version of the blessing that I was privileged to sing at the funeral service. Here is a recording of the choral version sung by the Sprague High School Choir. Not a famous choir, but this is lovely. Agay also included the phrase: “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord cause his face to shine upon you and give you peace.” Agay was a Jewish Hungarian composer who emigrated to the U.S. at the brink of WW2, but sadly his parents remained, and perished in the holocaust. How people carry on with life after such loss, including my own ancestors, I’ve yet to fully comprehend. Thank goodness for music that helps us. And this song is such a beautiful creation of melded culture: an Irish blessing in English text set to a melody by a Hungarian Jew, and often sung in Catholic/Christian settings. Music truly is the universal language. Insert deity of your choosing, and please accept this lovely blessing for yourself as you listen. We are all connected, in infinite, entangled ways, and it’s beautiful. With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~

“Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box, they tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe.” Even on days that get me down, days when I invalidate the down-ness (making it even worse), and then feel guilty about it…. At some point even on my most obnoxious days, I finally stop, look around, inhale, and remember that everything is just as it is, as it should be, and that it’s not up to me anyway. I might not like it, but I can change how I react. And I can use music to elicit a more positive reaction. So on these days, I think I’ll post different covers of one of my favourite songs, Across The Universe by The Beatles. There are many covers of this song; and no wonder, given its beautiful melody and hypnotic text. I’ve read a few translations of the Sanskrit words “Jai Guru Deva Om”, but I like Wikipedia’s (likely inaccurate one) the best: “glory to the shining remover of darkness”. And whether you think that’s God, or the sun, a candle flame, your pet, or your human loved ones, well, it’s all the same, it’s The Light. “Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns it calls me on and on, across the universe…” Sending patience and protection to any and all who need it today, including myself. And so it is. ♥ With love, light and song… ~Melissa~

Listen here: Across The Universe * by John Lennon * from the World Wildlife Fund charity compilation album (1968) * as performed by Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir! (2013)

Did you know that during today and tomorrow we are living under the pull of a super new moon? That means the moon is in its closest position to Earth, and would appear at its largest if we could see it (new moons have dark faces). A solar eclipse is nigh. The moon is now in my birth sign of Pisces, which is a very emotional and artistic sign. A lot of people feel this phase is a remarkable time to manifest new creation in your life, to open your heart and head to birth and rebirth, and put motion and flow into your thoughts and ideas (particularly the Pisces new moon as it is the last one of the astrological year). “You’ve got ways to take hold of my thoughts, over-riding my senses…”

What do the moon phases mean to me? Well, I’m not an astrology expert so really what they mean to me are potential for migraines and whether or not I’ll be able to see well if I go out with the dogs late at night! On the surface those may seem like trite observations, but they are actually reminders of the moon’s power to illuminate our needs, and the moon’s direct influence on the ebb and flow of water in our bodies. I’m always going on about hydration to my voice students, and here I am, walking proof of how it affects us! “You stir my soul and whet my hunger and weave that spell that pulls me under…”

My 30-year love of Gowan holds strong; he’s an incredibly passionate and talented singer-pianist-songwriter, and Canadian to boot! As you decide what to manifest and create under the spell of the dark moon, enjoy this dramatic blast from the past. With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~

Listen here: Moonlight Desires * by Lawrence Gowan * from the album Great Dirty World (1987)

“Everything seems to sing everywhere I go…” Without a doubt, the king of musical influences in my childhood was Jim Henson. As the creator of the Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock, Jim Henson celebrated music in every episode of every show. The wide variety of styles and performers infiltrated my ears at an early age. My appreciation for the magic of the Muppet world is ongoing even at this age (just ask my husband, who has to sleep in a bedroom with a Kermit doll on the shelf). The character who most resembled Jim Henson in look and spirit was Cantus, the leader of the Fraggle Minstrels, and this character was only ever performed by him. Cantus, incidentally, is the Latin word for song. Please enjoy this delicately lovely take on the enchanting spell music can have over us all. With love, light, and song… ~Melissa~

Listen here: Let Me Be Your Song * by Phil Balsom & Dennis Lee * from Fraggle Rock: The Minstrels (1983)