Fibonacci, what a notion of the motion of the world. . .
Fibonacci, What a Notion! was originally commissioned by the Children’s Festival Chorus of Pittsburgh. Written for children’s choir and jazz ensemble Catch 22, the piece is about the Fibonacci number series and also uses Fibonacci numbers in its construction. I’ve been writing and recording for the past few weeks and am in the process of reworking this piece for myself as well as for my ensemble. Here’s the first verse of the original piece.
“. . . promises can lead to joy and hope and love, yes love.” lyricist Hal David
As many others have commented lately, this is a mild winter, the one that allows you to see everything without a protective blanket of snow. Snow, often referred to as “white mulch” by northern gardeners, is preferable as it protects the plants through harsh conditions and fixes nitrogen in the soil. But I can never bring myself to eschew a mild bare winter where I can actually see the garden. If you grow perennials and shrubs, you have a lot to look at in January.
The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere . . . John Muir, naturalist
It is the time of year when I begin to miss my garden. Lovely as the winter woods are, I hunger for the color of bloom and leaf. I have already marked the seed catalogs and have started a spreadsheet of possible purchases, dreaming of the garden season to come. As a way of reminding myself that spring will follow the long winter months, I will soon begin each day watching one of my large collection of garden videos. But early this morning, after many dark gloomy days, I saw the sun rising through the clouds. I grabbed my camera and the dog and went hunting the only color in nature at this time of year – in the sky.
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I’m versatile! Two blogging friends, poet AZ/catcherofstars at Verse Not Prose and photographer Kerry at Lightscapes Nature Photography, have honored me with another award, the Versatile Blogger Award. Since I am still deep in composing and recording this week, I will post about this award on Sunday, the first day of the new year. It seems an appropriate way to begin a new leaf. In the meantime, I wish everyone a safe and happy New Year’s Eve celebration!
Winter, an artist’s sketch in charcoal, so clearly etched against a cloud filled sky. . .
In celebration of the moment when the earth turns on its axis back to the light of the sun. This year, in the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on December 22. Time and Date offers a clear explanation of the solstice as well as explores the customs and traditions around it. To see a beautiful collection of “brown and gray and sometimes white” nature photography, explore Robin’s post on frosted Queen Ann’s Lace in Life in the Bogs.
“Winter” was one of those songs written in a moment, in a winter where snow alternated with grey skies and brown earth. This recording is a “first take” for both the piano and vocal. The visuals are all from my garden. Enjoy!
All music making is collaborative in nature. A special thanks to Barbara Nissman for contributing her master’s touch on the piano to this song and Mike Tomaro for his haunting soprano sax improvisations. And as always, to my gifted husband Bill Purse, who generously shares his skills as audio engineer and producer in my artistic endeavors.
Winter, snow falling down Winter, the world is gray and brown, gray and brown and sometimes white for a night and a day, then all is gray
Autumn in leaves of gold Springtime, a thousand shades of green unfold to summer with its joyous Joseph’s Coat of colors, endless colors, endless colors . . .
Winter, an artist’s sketch in charcoal so clearly etched against a cloud filled sky Subtle and dark, lovely and stark in gentle tones of gray and brown and sometimes white for a night and a day, then all turns gray Winter today
We have long considered creating an online musical Christmas card instead of sending paper cards and Christmas letters; this is the year that it happens. “Father Christmas” was composed from a dream that my husband had of his father. Bill handed me the text and music for the chorus, I completed the text and music for the verses and bridge and scored it for keyboards and percussion. Our friend Judy joined us to record it for the “Christmas at Duquesne, Vol. 2” CD. Now we would like to share the video version with our friends and families as our Christmas greeting this year. May the blessings of love and peace be with you throughout the coming year. Enjoy!
Father Christmas, Father Time Mother Earth in ancient rhyme Help the angels sing your name I’ll see you Father, once again
Christmas seen through childish eyes Glitter gold and treasures prized, and yet around each childish heart the warmth of love and family start
A world of sorrow, a world of pain, a world in which there seems no gain. But nonetheless, remember this, a world was won by a child of grace
Looking back on memories, I see the joy of family A father’s love, a mother’s joy for all their children, girl and boy
Fathers, mothers, listen now Sisters, brothers, make this vow to love each other on this earth and share the bonds of love and mirth
Lynn Emberg Purse, vocals and keyboards; Bill Purse, vocals and percussion, sound engineer and producer; Judith Bowman, keyboards. A special thanks to my niece and great niece Jessica and Olivia and to my mother and my husband for allowing me to film them, and to Michael for providing the red rose.
Soundtrack on the “Christmas at Duquesne, Vol. 2” CD available at the Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music, 412-396-6080. All proceeds go towards scholarships for Duquesne University music students.
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