Cooling Down to Autumn

What a summer!
Never as brief as what I imagine an Arctic bloom to be- some day I would like to get to see that! But summer for many of us Canadians is lamentably short. This one was sweet nonetheless. I am thankful for a generous helping of time in nature, with family, friends... but also many wonderful musical moments that included a pre-natal invitation to a new member of the family, several bedside vigils for elders on their end-of-life journey, memorials, funerals, and even a wedding thrown in there for good measure!
Now it's time for projects that bring me back to building inner resources, and to making good on a long-held dream of "laying down some tracks": a CD of Harp, Voice and other offerings that have lain dormant for too long. There seems to be a critical mass of motivation arising, and perhaps more importantly, a recognition that the time has come, and the right alignment of supportive souls and resources are present!
On to the studio!

Ensemble Laude Lauds

Thanks to Elizabeth and all the ensemble who put their hearts and souls into the tones that washed the walls in this last Sunday afternoon's Viriditas concert in Victoria.
The "surround sound" from behind our seats in the balcony sent shivers up and down my spine, and I felt nourished by the solo and multiple voice renderings that reverberated the very flesh and bones of St. Andrews' Presbyterian Church that day.

If you love Early Music delivered with passion and joy, then don't miss this groups' next offering- a matinee performance on Mother's Day (May 9th), at Providence Farm in Cowichan Bay. check them out:http://www.ensemblelaude.org/concerts.html

Heya!

The Love that Moves the Universe!

Thanks to Paul N. who gifted Miryam and I with tickets to a Good Friday Vancouver Chamber Choir concert with members of the Vancouver Symphony orchestra, in the glorious Orpheum Theatre! We were irrigated with waves of tonal substance in our upper balcony seats, taken on a marvelous journey with a Schubert mass, Mozarts' Vesperae solennes de Confessore, and the world premiere of Canadian Composer, R. Murray Schafer's "The Love that Moves the Universe". This latter performance roused a standing ovation, with the composer himself emerging from the wings...

Based on several cantos of Dante's "Commedia" (Paradiso), Choir Director John Washburn arranged the choir and orchestra in two semi-circles of singers and instrumentalists respectively, around the stage. This technically-demanding piece, full of call and response, echo, and wide-ranging dynamic interplay between voices and instruments created a moving soundscape that was both familiar and novel for this composer.

The text itself (from over 7 centuries past) can still pull at the very soul of the listener in ways that renew and restore right relationship to our very place in the world and beyond...

From canto 33:

"O luce eterna che sola in te sidi
sola t'intendi, e de te intelletta
e intendente, te ami et arridi...

O light eternal, dwelling within yourself alone,
understood and understanding,
smiling at your own intents! "


Bella, Happy Spring!

Online Symposium for Palliative Care

For anyone interested in webstreaming current issues and practices for Palliative Care, you might want to check out The 2nd Annual International Telehealth Palliative Care Symposium. I will be signing in for several sessions over the 3 days of April 27~29.
From "Traditional Healing among the Inupiaq" to "Are you at Peace", there is much to gnaw on here for my work, and anyone living with dying...

Bon appetit!

Philipp

Correction...

The film "Tous les Matins du Monde", mentioned yesterday is by Alain Corneau, not Alain Gaudet... And Jordi Savall was playing his bass viol for the Kay Meek Center performance March 8th...

Stay tuned!

A Mugician by any other name!

Last Tuesday evening, as I waited in a most pleasant line-up for the chance to meet the evenings' featured solo performer, the young family ahead of me were beaming with anticipation... The mother whispered " gosh, he looks like a priest with that burgundy scarf over the long, dark open jacket..." The 4-week-old baby in her father's arms "slept beautifully" throughout the (almost) 2-hour program, which spanned several centuries, and hinted at how "early music" can be right on time for thirsty ears in a time of soul impoverishment.
The instrument: the 7-string viol de gamba, the performer: Jordi Savall- a devoted and impassioned Catalonian musician, arranger, director, and ambassador of peace through music-making... The venue: the Kay Meek Center in West Vancouver- a spacious and acoustically well-designed performance theater built as an adjunct to the local High School...

Last year in May, I had found Jordi Savall's touring schedule on his Record labels' website, Alia Vox . When I discovered that he was to be performing with his entire family in a small rural church in franco-Switzerland, I decided to dream a little. Well, after contacting the box office in Villars sur Glannes (en Francais), I thought I might have a go at raising the funds for a "quick trip" over the Saint Nicholas festival (Dec.6th). Alas, the short story is I had to settle for a solo performance in Vancouver this month instead. Miryam and I were sooo ready for this! As it turned out, his son Ferran was not going to be on the December program.... So, perhaps my dream of hearing the whole family together will still find its' moment ...

Maestro Savall, after giving a heartfelt and compelling performance, stayed on for an hour signing CD's and programs, standing for photos, and otherwise genuinely engaging with the public. I was grateful to be able to thank him personally for being part of an inspiration for my musical journey into Music-Thanatology- he arranged and performed the soundtrack for Alain Corneau's film "Tous les Matins du Monde", where in the opening scene is the image of a solo musician (Monsieur de Saint-Colombe) playing his viol at the bedside of a dying patron...

The dedication to his craft, love for his instrument (built in the 1600's), and passion for releasing beautiful tone are all balanced in a presence that seems ageless. Now near 70 years-young, his place in the world is clear and strong- a musician who draws magic from both the bow and piccicato over 7 strings...!

Merci Beaucoup!

Philipp

Exciting New Publication!

Congratulations Jenn! Jenn Hollis is a colleague of mine, practising Music-Thanatology in the Boston area. Her new book, "Music at the End of Life" has been long-anticipated, and all of our circle are excited by it's upcoming launch.
Hopefully more people will come to know of this work in a new way.

Felicitations!
Philipp

Lunch time-out tones!

Back in James Bay for Friday apres-lunch harp and voice offerings.
Unwind the clock for a few minutes, and return to the world refreshed.
Hosted by Animate Community for 4 consecutive Fridays starting Feb. 19th.
Listen to your Heart!

Harp for Art's Sake!

One never knows how the muses will inspire us, or open doors for us...?
Someone who attended last Friday evening's House concert in James Bay has invited me to play for an art show opening at the Empress! "Arts of all Sorts" hosts a widely diverse collection of works (for sale) by local artists of all ages- a fundraiser for an Emily Carr sculpture that has been commissioned for Victoria, with installation set for May.
It all takes place in the Empress Library Room, and I'll be playing on opening night (Monday)February 8, from 4:45pm....and once more on Saturday, February 13, from 2:45pm.
If you enjoy browsing original art, listening to poetry, storytelling, and some tones to go along with it, do drop by!


Avec plaisir!
Philipp

Heal the Heart House Concert- Thanks!

Thanks to all who came out for a wonderful, heartfelt evening.
It was "cozy" in that James Bay heritage house with folks right up to our knees, almost!
Kenn and I enjoyed ourselves immensely, and agreed that we could do this again sometime soon. One particularly special part of the evening for me was the silence that was held between the movements of playing my harp- people seem to thirst for that kind of spaciousness. Silence is indeed golden!
Miryam also suggested that we could do our own fundraising for the dojo at another appropriate venue with another band contributing as well...
Matched gov't funding for "Medecins Sans Frontiers" will get $100 from the proceeds to go towards relief efforts in Haiti! Thanks to Nicole at Animate Community for forwarding this.
Grateful for family and friends' support. May we get out to hear some of you at another "unplugged", live music event soon!

Merci, beaucoup!

Philipp

Prayers, songs for Haiti!

Once again world events reach our consciousness, and once again there are ways we can
respond. Sending out a prayer song of support for everyone affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti today. The folks in the streets of Port-Au-Prince seem to be able to do it under impossible conditions... So too can we who are non-local!
Miserere miserecordie... mercy and compassion s'il vous plait!

From sleepy Victoria...

Tough Questions for Religion

Compassionate Action - Humanity's Immune Response to a Planet in Crisis
JANUARY 19, 2010
4:30 - 6:00 PM
University of Victoria McLaurin Bldg
DAVID LAM AUDITORIUM
Free

Acclaimed filmmaker and spiritual activist Velcrow Ripper, director of Fierce Light and Scared Sacred discusses the global zeitgeist of compassionate action that is exploding around the planet today - "humanity’s immune response to a planet in crisis". It is the power that is released when spirituality is combined with activism, a transformation that is both inner and outer. Gandhi called it "soul force", Thich Nhat Hanh calls it "love in action", for Ripper it is "Fierce Light." It is the force of the Sacred Warrior, heart centered and fierce at the same time. A dynamic, engaging exploration of the world of spirit in action.

New Years' Greetings to all!
This blog has come into being in response to many inquiries about the work of Music-Thanatology, and a broader interest in Music as a vehicle for personal, and trans-personal transformation.
As my experience and time will allow, I hope and intend for the seeds sown here to grow into a more fleshed-out website. Of course, since deciding to embark on this 'virtual path', it has become clearer, once again... that I am not alone in dreaming a more joyful vision for the challenging time of change in front of us.

With the oft' quoted reminder "that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no individual could have dreamed would have come their way..." I recognize an urgency to "get my own house in order", so as to better meet the needs of those I seek to serve with music.

So, here is yet another beginning.
Stay tuned for many interesting links and articles of special interest.
May this grow and prosper to benefit as many as possible!

Merci Beaucoup!

Philipp