There is a new player on this project. He is making his harmonica recording debut. He is 83 years young and only began playing "the harp" about 4 years ago. He has a natural sense of melody and crouches and sways when he plays, just like an seasoned old blues player! He is my best friend and husband of...MANY years. Introducing Richard Rouse on his first record release, blowing along on Detour Road.
Nearly 10 years ago I got an email from Indiana farmer/scholar/birder/listener of my music, Bruce Allen. He asked if I would consider writing music to his favorite piece of poetry, To An Oriole, by Edgar Fawcett. He sent me the poem and what he knew about the author (1847-1904). It sat at my piano for months while I checked to ascertain if it was in the public domain to allow me to work with it. As I read it over and over, I was touched by the creativity of the poet and wondered how I could ever make it into a song. It emerged like a tiny baby bird chippping its way out of the shell, then it stretched its little wet wings to dry and strengthen for a flight out into the world.
To An Oriole, in its form as (what we used to call) an Art Song, is included on A Sense of Place as a sort of Breathing Space. I hope it wings its way into your heart, as did the original poem. Thank you, Bruce, for trusting your favorite poem to my muse. More about this in next post!
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