Music
August 29, 2010
August 15, 2010
December 21, 2009
A Blessed Solstice to All
I posted this video last year, but I hope you don't mind that I'm posting it again. I had almost forgotten about it myself. I took many of the photos in the slideshow — some show winters on our beloved island, some show the snowstorm in our own backyard last year, and some show the Lucia Parties over the years. Cate Kerr took most of the snowy landscapes. My beloved Pop is the "wise man" on the snowy road, just down from our island house.
This video still touches my heart. We hope it touches yours, too.
A Blessed Solstice to all!
Click here to play a Quicktime movie (high res version) or click here for the YouTube version.
“In the Bleak Midwinter” performed by Craig Olson
Music by Gustav Holst (1906)
Lyrics by Christina Rossetti (1872), revised by Craig Olson (2006)
Photography Credits:
Snow scenes by Catherine Kerr and Joanna Powell Colbert
Interior scenes by Paul Bingman, Chele Eva Armstrong and Joanna Powell Colbert
December 19, 2009
A Gift for You: Beyond the Cedar Moon
My sweetheart has a Solstice gift for you: From now through Christmas Day you can get a free download of his entire first album "Beyond the Cedar Moon" with no strings attached.
He says: "Just click the link and follow the prompts. Feel free to share or give as a gift. It's DRM-free, high quality 320 kbps mp3 or loss-less audio. (That's geek-speak for "really cool!")"
This is one of my alltime favorite albums. Just exquisite songs (in the acoustic singer/songwriter genre). Oh, and I co-wrote one of the songs, "Ave Stella Maris." Enjoy!
June 22, 2009
PSG: Unplugged
Craig and I returned home in the wee hours this morning from Camp Zoe, Missouri in the Ozark Mountains, where we spent nine days at Pagan Spirit Gathering. It was a true “time out of time,” a time between the worlds. Even though some people had access to the internet (though not cell phone coverage), not much news from the world beyond us trickled down. And that was just fine with me.
I discovered that I love being unplugged, both from the internet and the phone. Nine whole days. What happens when you unplug? It’s all about slow time, natural time, as my friend Waverly Fitzgerald so often writes about. The days at Camp Zoe were divided into sections that reminded me of medieval Hours: Waking; Morning Meeting; Noontime Meal; Noontime Concert; Workshop 1, Workshop 2 (or, River Play Time); Evening Meal; Evening Concert; Evening Ritual; Drum/Fire Circle; Bedtime.
June 11, 2009
December 21, 2008
Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Solstice Day!
And on Solstice Day, my true love sent to me . . .
A song & slideshow from our family to yours.
Click here to play a Quicktime movie (high res version) or click here for the YouTube version.
“In the Deep Midwinter” performed by Craig Olson
Music by Gustav Holst (1906)
Lyrics by Christina Rossetti (1872), revised by Craig Olson (2006)
Photography Credits:
December 20, 2008
Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Day 20
On the twentieth day of Advent, my true love sent to me . . .
"In Praise of Christmas," one of the most beautiful Yule carols ever written, with revised lyrics by Helen Farias.
My friend Helen, founder of the Beltane Papers back in the early 80's and creator of the original Lucia parties, had a knack for revising lyrics to beloved melodies. I first heard this song from her before Loreena McKennitt recorded her own well-known version. Here is a video of Loreena's version (hauntingly beautiful). Here are the songsheet and traditional lyrics. And if you'd like to learn the song to sing for your own revels, here are Helen's revised lyrics. Blessed be. (Photo of an island maple taken by me a few winters ago.)
"To Drive the Cold Winter Away" (or, "In Praise of Christmas")
Melody: 17th century English traditional
Lyrics by Helen Farias
When Christmas’s tide comes in like a bride,
With holly and ivy clad,
Her candles aglow, her mantle of snow,
Shall make our weary hearts glad.
Your door open wide to call her inside
To brighten the gloomy day.
Our wassail is blest, our carols are best
To drive the cold winter away.
This time of the year is spent in good cheer
And friends together do meet
To sit by the fire, with magic conspire
To make their holidays sweet.
The Lady and Lord with circle and ward
Will bid the good spirits stay,
And at our behest they’ll banish the rest
To drive the cold winter away.
So these are the days we joyfully praise,
Despite the darkening year.
We trust that the Light that shines in the night
Dispels all sorrow and fear.
The stars in the sky that sparkle on high
And here comes the Good Dame, plum pudding aflame
To drive the cold winter away.
December 17, 2008
Advent-of-the-Sun Calendar: Day 17
On the seventeenth day of Advent, my true love sent to me . . .
"Firedance," a lively song to celebrate the Return of the Sun by Canadian group Jaiya. (It's only a clip, not the whole song, sorry! But you can hear how lively it is.)
You can buy the CD or download it here.
"Yule is come, now beat the drum,
and light the Solstice flame . . .
Tonight we raise a hymn of praise,
for the Sun returns again!"
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