What is to give light must endure burning. ~ Victor Frankl
At last, I have finally completed the music and video of “Light,” the second piece of The Four Elements. As I did with “Breath” I am offering a free mp3 download of “Light” for the first week of release, which you can find on my Facebook Music Page or at CD Baby. (After midnight EST, Sunday, August 26, it will revert back to a $.99 download.)
A special thanks goes as always to my creative partner and husband, Bill Purse, who not only engineered and produced the audio recording, but also played bass and sang. Another thanks to two of my former students, Mike Elliott and Rob Balotsky, who played electronic percussion for the piece, no mean feat considering the odd time signatures and shifting rhythms. A final thanks to the Hubble Space Telescope Program and NASA video sources for such inspiring images of our world and our universe.
I like good strong words that mean something. ~ Louisa May Alcott
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Shakespeare
A week of very hot weather and a very intense teaching schedule has come to a close. After a quiet morning spent re-acquainting myself with my garden and my family, I find that I am a little short of words. I’ve used up so many of them this week that I’ve decided to share a clever video from Radiolab, all about words.
Many thanks to my student John who shared this video with my class. Enjoy!
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.
. . .and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well . . . May that be truly said of us, and all of us! “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens
Many years ago, I went on an overseas musical tour to entertain the troops during the holidays. I didn’t think it would bother me to be away for the holidays but Christmas Eve found me in tears. In a lovely tropical land, but with nothing to give as gifts except stale candy and magazines from the tiny PX, and performing Christmas music for an audience that was in holiday denial, I was sorry I had agreed to the trip. A fortuitous invitation to a midnight mass changed everything for me. On a warm tropical night, in a soaring cathedral built of Philippine mahogany but with no walls, people gathered by candlelight to celebrate Christmas. Sweet voices rose in singing “Silent Night” to the accompaniment of acoustic guitars, the original instrument used for that lovely carol. I felt all preconceptions and expectations about the holiday slip away from me – the night was magical, a quiet miracle. When I returned home, I remembered Scrooge’s change of heart and vowed to “keep Christmas” any time I had the chance but also to remember that it was bigger than custom and ritual.
Jump forward 25 years. When asked to write and record a pop style song for a Christmas CD, I remembered that remarkable Christmas Eve. The lyrics were written in ten minutes during a chamber music concert on the back of the program. Influenced by the music that was being performed at the time, I included two violins and a cello in the score and “Christmas In My Heart” was recorded for the “Christmas at Duquesne, Vol. 2 CD”.
This song is dedicated to everyone who finds themselves away from home during the holidays, with a gentle reminder that you carry the real meaning inside of you. Trust that magic will happen.
If there was no tree this year, no rows of twinkling lights, no ornaments, no bells to ring, no frosty snowmen bright. I’d miss the cheerful bustle with which the season starts, but no matter where I find myself, I’ll keep Christmas in my heart.
If there was nobody singing carols, no cups of Christmas cheer, no bows, no boxes, no ribbons to tie, no special gifts to share. I’d miss the sounds, the sights, the smells with which the season starts, but no matter where I find myself, I’ll keep Christmas in my heart.
I may be so far away, missing everyone I love, Standing on unfamiliar ground where nothing looks like home.
Yet in a quiet moment, in a starry silent night the shortest day is over and the dawn is growing bright. I sing an alleluia and a candle lights the dark. No matter where I find myself, no matter where I find myself, no matter where we find ourselves,
we’ll keep Christmas in our hearts, in our hearts.
A special thanks to those who provided photos, especially Andrew Fichter and Michael Ortiz. Many photos were also provided by Photos8.org and Photos Public Domain – please support those public domain/creative commons websites that provide beautiful photos at no cost and support artistic creativity.
At last, I have finally completed the music and video of “Light,” the second piece of The Four Elements. As I did with “Breath” I am offering a free mp3 download of “Light” for the first week of release, which you can find on my Facebook Music Page or at CD Baby. (After midnight EST, Sunday, August 26, it will revert back to a $.99 download.)
composerinthegarden 