Midsummer Moon -- Dancing Through Time and Space, Celebrating Thomas Berry’s Life with a new Dance!

Sometimes the creative life is a grind, sometimes it is grand.  Recently one of those grand things happened that gives me a big thrill just to have my songs included.  Here’s the story:

photo from Hubble Telescope, lyric Fireball by JJRouse

The words and works of the late Thomas Berry have long been an inspiration for my musical work. I was fortunate to meet and speak with him on several occasions, including leading some singing for several of his 94th birthday celebrations (yes, there were multiple parties sponsored by the city of Greensboro, NC). 

This year many of his friends, followers, colleagues and students have been planning special events to commemorate the 100th year of his birth.  Nelson Stover’s beautiful poem Midsummer Moon, based on Berry’s telling of the Universe Story, is the setting for a new Modern Dance program highlighting eight songs from the Earth Mama Music catalog.  The songs include:

• Fireball (Under the Rainbow)
• Standing on the Shoulders (Love Large)
• Away (Grass Roots!)
• Grass Roots!
• Earth Pledge
• Every Day is Earth Day (Around the World with Earth Mama)
• We are One (Love Large)
• Friend of the Earth (Love Large)

I’ve always had two left feet, so it will be a joy to see real, professional dancers moving to my songs and set to the lovely narrative of Midsummer Moon!

Please come join us for one of the two premier performances in Greensboro, NC.  Note they are in two different locations.
 
Saturday, November 1, 7:30-8:30 pm


Midsummer Moon: Dancing through Time and Space

Place: Caldcleugh Multicultural Arts Center
Presented by: Emerging Ecology
We Are One performing arts ensemble presents Midsummer Moon. The scenes tell the universe story from the primal flaring forth through the emergence of humans. They highlight oppor­tunities for contributing to the enhancement of all species.
For additional details visit our website. If you plan to attend and would like updates on the program, Like Us on Facebook.

Saturday, November 8, 7:30-8:30 pm


Midsummer Moon: Dancing through Time and Space
Place: Greensboro Historical Museum
Presented by:  Emerging Ecology
We Are One performing arts ensemble presents Midsummer Moon. The scenes tell the universe story from the primal flaring forth through the emergence of humans. They highlight oppor­tunities for contributing to the enhancement of all species.
For additional details visit our website.  If you plan to attend and would like updates on the program, Like Us on Facebook.

To An Oriole, A Sense of Place, Track 2

Baltimore Oriole, Wikipedia

The lyrics for To An Oriole is a poem sent to me by a fellow Earth Literacy grad, Bruce Allen, from St Mary-of-the-Woods College, IN. Bruce is also a weekend farmer, birder, and all around good guy.
He sent me the verse, telling me it was his all-time favorite poem and wondered if I might set it to music. He had several of my CDs and asked if I could provide a suitable melody for the words written over a century ago by Edgar Fawcett.

I am always reluctant to take on this kind of a project for several reasons. First, it is hard to live up to others' expectations of what a melody might be for a favorite verse.  Secondly, it can be a copyright nightmare if you do not have a direct relationship with the co-writer.  Clearly, the long deceased Mr. Fawcett, would not be able to protest my adoption of his succinct verse about he ethereal wonder of his favorite bird. My research showed the writings he had authored had all aged into the Public Domain.  I was encouraged to continue.

So I spent some hours at the piano noodling with steps and jumps of melody possibilities until his words began to speak to me with their own cadence, with pauses and lilting questions. The words themselves took command and TOLD me how to write the melody.  Thank you, Bruce.  Thank you, Mr. Fawcett.   And thank you, Beautiful Oriole.

Listening Clip, Track 2

A Sense of Place

Years ago I read words by Wendell Berry to the effect of of:
We can't really know WHO we are unless or until we know WHERE we are.

He seemed to be referring to the power of specific geographic location to influence how we function — how we develop as a community, what we eat, what we wear, the inspiration for poetry and music— based on the soil, the climate, the species present and a multitude of other factors outlined by the natural world.  Similarly, Michigan nature writer Stephanie Mills advises us, "Know thyself—and thy wildflowers!"  Good advice.

In the three years I've been working on this CD, I struggled to find a title, until I remembered the power of Place. It is a thread that runs through the songs from the first tune advocating for choosing Love, Peace, Compassion, and a Smile instead of the opposite, or you'll be on a "Detour Road."

One track on the project moves me deeply each time I hear it.  It is sung by the phenomenal late Keith Palmer, (1957-1996) who sang this as a demo for me in 1992. He later recorded for Epic Records.
(See and hear more about Keith here:http://www.mkoc.com/hidden/KeithPalmer/keith.htm)

 I always felt like the song was not quite finished until his family gave me permission to include it with new added lyrics which we wove into the old recording.   This song, now with a new name, "Only One" finally feels right.  Rob Matson, The World's Best Sound Engineer, in my book, did skilled job of weaving new harmonies and depth into a beautiful old recording.  I hope that I can keep a bit of the legacy of Keith's beautiful voice alive by including it on this project. Profound thanks to his family for allowing me to share it with you.

(samples of all the songs at CDBaby Earth Mama  and up on my website soon)
Please check back soon for more insider stories of A Sense of Place. I'll feature some of the other players, inspiration for the songs, humor in the studio, etc.  Please feel free to ask questions and leave comments.

Coming next:  Why a Christmas song for the bonus track?
Who is Edgar Fawcett?  What harmonica player is making his recording debut on this CD?