A collection of music,songs, lyrics, poems, essays, photography, and stories for you to enjoy and share.
These are mostly works in progress...feedback on where to improve is always appreciated. Please leave a comment if you have a suggestion, or if you liked something as it appears, I'd be glad to know that too!
During recent correspondence with a Benedictine monk, it was suggested by him that the 1983 Buick Skylark is a vehicle worthy of contemplation. More specifically he wrote; “there now - ponder that puppy for awhile!” My initial instinct to paraphrase his text is an overt attempt to appeal to the uninitiated who may not believe that monks speak as quoted, but who nevertheless may have valuable insight into this vehicle and its properties. Those familiar with the Oblates of St. Benedict, will find the quotation a more authentic representation of their speech.
Lest anyone consider even for a moment that this present discussion indicates a lapse in attention toward or devotion to the beloved Citroen DS, let me state emphatically that it does not. This research is motivated out of academic interest and even more so out of a sense of holy obedience to the monk who suggested it be undertaken. The 1983 Skylark was mentioned in response to my e-mailing the OSB a PDF of a DS manual with the subject line: “My latest Spiritual Reading”. Looking at the lines of the '83 Buick Skylark I can scarcely believe that it could ever be worthy of inclusion in a discussion centered around the spiritual characteristics of the Citroen. As AC/DC's Brian Johnson said, "I have my 1973 DS 23 Pallas....It's still the most beautiful shape in the world".
Having said that, it did occur to me that there may be some mechanical aspect of this vehicle which one could learn to appreciate, and with which I am not currently familiar. Perhaps the Skylark's virtues should not be judged on its box-like appearance any more than the virtues Thomas Aquinas should be appraised on his ox-like one. If the Dumb Ox contained a soul and intellect capable of producing the Summa, perhaps there are features of this car which are indeed worthy of praise. As I delve more deeply into the mysteries of the Citroen, I find within this creation deep and abiding mysteries that speak not only to the excellence of the vehicle, but even more so to the goodness of the One who endowed mankind with the ability to engineer it. I will admit freely that my initial attraction to the car was purely physical, but now it has taken on a mystical quality that can only be appreciated by those who have known a similar attraction toward a particular car. As human objects of affection may at first catch our attention through the senses, and then develop into something deeper once the intellectual and spiritual qualities of our intended are revealed slowly over time, so too my affection for the DS increases daily.
I am wondering if anyone is familiar with the 1983 Skylark and can enlighten me on why the monk feels it is an object worthy of contemplation. I have even considered that there may be no redeeming feature of this vehicle and that the subject was given as a penitential spiritual exercise suited for the season of Advent. Perhaps it is to be considered in the way that from time to time one should consider the flames of hell so as to avoid entering into them. If you know, in theory or in practice, anything about the 1983 Skylark, I would love to hear about your experience with it. Might I add gentlemen, in order to avoid having to redact comments before sharing them with monks, please keep your comments to the features of the car itself, and not to any worldly experiences in which the vehicle may have played a convenient part. Deo optimo maximo!
If
you want to do something radical, something that will change the
world and leave your mark on history, be a Canadian. If you want to
be a hero, be a Canadian. You don't have to go to outer space,
although Canadians have done that. You don't have to cure diseases,
although Canadians have done that. You don't have to invent cutting
edge technology that improves the lives of millions, although
Canadians have done that. You don't have to go to war to defend our
freedoms, although Canadians have done that. You don't have do
anything other than what you were called to do in ordinary life; but
do it well and make us proud. Hold a door open, say thank you, and
say sorry when you've done something wrong; give up a seat for an
elderly person on the bus and congratulate children when they give it
their all to master some new skill they are learning. Tolerate
diversity and be proud of your own unique contribution the fabric of
our society. The most radical response to the world's problems is to
keep doing those little things that make us who we are and who we
will become.
When
we stand on guard for our country and the freedoms others have
purchased for us, we are armed with the knowledge that we are a great
country because we are united as neighbours. We are Muslim, and
Jewish; we are Catholic and Protestant; We are Atheists and we are
Buddhists. We are Conservative and Liberal, NDP, Green and
Independent. We are Aboriginal and we are immigrants. We speak our
mind and allow others the chance to speak theirs. We do so in French,
English, and many, many languages besides. That we can be so
different and yet united is a sign of contradiction to the world. No
civilization has ever been such a radical symbol of hope in the face
of challenge. We are a nation founded by those who
willingly died that we may live. They did not only die in war; they
died in service to their neighbour throughout our history. Love of
neighbour is one of the radical tenets on which our nation is
founded.
Today
I was especially touched by an image of Retired Corporal David Ward
who, like other
retired veterans across the nation, stood on guard at the local
cenotaph to remember Corporal Nathan Cirillo. I was also touched by
Chris Boudreau who today reminded Canadians that families of the
radicalized need help to prevent further tragedies; she lost her own
Canadian son in Syria. Today she had the courage to speak out for
others who might yet be saved. If our vigilance levels are to be
raised in the wake of the tragedies in Ottawa and
St-Jean-sur-Richelieu,
let us be more vigilant for the opportunities to look out for our
neighbours, to do the little things which keep our society safe and strong.
While we are rightfully proud of Kevin
Vickers for his bravery, skill, and swift action on October 22, we
ought also to be proud that this day was the first time in his career
that he discharged his weapon on duty; most days Vickers showed us that normally problems in Canada can be
solved without violence or force. Vickers' return to work today was
also a heroic act. It speaks of his resilience and reminds us of our
obligation to carry on too. It's good to have neighbours like Vickers, not just because he occasionally carries a gun, but also because he
normally carries the mace, that symbol of our democracy.
It could have been anyone of us who
lost a loved one in the line of duty, or who lost a loved one to the
clutches of a radical sect. Because it could have been anyone, it
means that the person you help today may be the hero you will be
praising tomorrow. The person you help today may likewise be the
person who would otherwise feel dejected and tempted to join some
misguided group in an attempt to bring meaning to their life. If you
feel your life is without purpose, look to your left then look to
your right; your purpose is to help those people right where you are,
no matter where they came from or where they are headed. They are
your neighbour, and you are theirs. You may be the person who makes
the difference in their lives today; you may never know what that
difference will be, but let us all be grateful for small chances to
do our part. To every Canadian who acted heroically yesterday thank
you. To every Canadian who loved their neighbour today, thank you
too. Love has always been the most radical response to hatred, and
the only one that has ever changed a damn thing.
Alabama Boy is now ready for purchase, Thanks to Robert Adam Plant and Sarah Warren for their hard work on bringing this project together.
Thanks also to everyone for purchasing this song and for sharing the link with others who may enjoy it too. We're hoping everyone will help pull together to get the word out about this song. Anything you can do to share the link via social media is greatly appreciated!
The next installment of the Shipment to the Mountain will resume next week. Please check back then for updates. In the meantime please enjoy re-reading and reviewing the material found in the previous editions.
This post is part of a series of posts on developing creativity and sharing your art with the world; in other words its about creating and shipping, no matter what. You can read previous Shipments to the Mountain here, or come back to them at some later time. If you'd like to see particular issues relating to creativity covered, or if you have a specific question you would like answered, please drop me a note at katrinaboguski (at) hotmail.ca. I enjoy receiving e-mails from readers and will do my best to reply with 2-3 days. If you do not get an answer by then, please resend your message as spam filters sometimes prevent messages from reaching me.
Contents:
Musical Notes
A list of song lyrics
Hot off the Espresso
A quote of the week
Artful challenge
Word of the week
Frugal Recipe
Listening Suggestions
Musical Notes:
The musical high point of the week was receiving a link to the newly released version of Alabama boy. This project came together thanks to the creativity and hard work of Robert Adam Plant. It was a real treat to work with him and to listen to my lyrics sung by Sarah Warren to the music Robert wrote. The tune will be available for purchase shortly, but you can get a sneak preview here.
"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things." Steve Jobs
Artful challenge for the week:
A Picture is Worth a Thousand words Challenge
This week draw something. Don't bother saying you can't draw, just do it. You don't need to show the drawing to anyone (unless you want to). You don't need to get any special equipment, just grab a pen or pencil and draw something on any paper. Use the back of an envelope, a cocktail napkin or anything you have available.
If you can't think of anything to draw from your imagination, try looking at a simple item like a tea cup or a flower. Draw it quickly; focus on one part of the object; draw it "accurately" or draw an abstract version of it...just draw. If you still can't do it, just put a bunch of dots on a page and start connecting them; a picture will emerge sooner or later.
Avoid drawing on the side buildings unless you are the property's owner.
Word of the week:
"Persistence"
Much or creativity is about this word. Creativity is about the practice, the starting over, the trying again, the continuing without a map and the waiting; through all of this, persistence is essential. Look up the word and use it. If you come to stumbling block, a bump in the road or an obstacle you can't get seem to get through, ask yourself the hurdle is really the problem or if it is your lack of persistence. Most people don't need more talent, they need more persistence. The good news is you can develop it, you guessed it, through persistence.
Frugal Recipe: Celery and Red Cabbage Salad
Wash several stalks of celery and about half as much red cabbage.
Cut the celery into bite-sized pieces
Chop the red cabbage into very, very fine slices; you can also shred it.
Add a handful or raisins.
Add salt, pepper, and chopped garlic to taste.
Pour equal parts oil and vinegar over top, just enough to coat the vegetables but not too much; you can use olive oil or other types of salad oil. Cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar will add additional flavor, or use white vinegar if that is all you have.
Refrigerate the mixture for several hours or over night; this will help the flavors mix in. If you don't let it sit, the cabbage flavor may be overpowering.
Just before serving, top with your favorite protein sources such as canned tuna, tofu, nuts and seeds or cooked chicken.
This recipe is healthy and delicious. You can make a large bowl of it and have leftovers for a few days.
Listening Suggestions:
Along Came Mary The Association
You've Got a Friend James Taylor
The Times They Are A changing Bob Dylan
City of New Orleans Arlo Guthrie
Next "Shipment to the Mountain" ships on Thursday for anyone who wants it. Please share this post with others who may enjoy the read.
Robert Adam Plant Esq. has just released a new version of Alabama Boy sung by Sarah Warren. In addition to doing the production work, Robert wrote the music and made a few improvements to my lyrics. The song will be available for purchase soon, but you can have a free preview of it here.
Shawn Anchor has an interesting job; he studies happiness. Some of you may have seen his PBS special, or his TED Talk. Both give practical ways to apply the findings of his years of research. He is able to take cutting edge developments in neuroscience and deliver them in humorous, memorable chunks of information. When applied to life, work and relationships of all sorts, these bits of information seem to radically increase our levels of happiness.
The story does not end there. Once raised, our levels of happiness reduce stress, improve health, influence our ability to live long lives and help us reach our goals. Whether the goal is related to business or some artistic pursuit such as music or writing, chipping away at that goal in a happy state of mind drastically increases our chances of attaining it.
Creative projects and the many goals that make them up are usually worked on over time; sometimes a very long time. Being able to sustain high levels of happiness for the long haul helps not only to achieve our goals but to live an enjoyable life along the way. If you think being more creative will make you happy, you may want to rework your formula. It is far more likely that being happy will make your more creative. Learning how to be happy is a skill and one that creative types would do well to develop.
Here is one of Shawn Anchor's talk on happiness. It is funny, short, and filled with tips for how to be happy. Hopefully the talk will leave you smiling and inspire your creative work today.
Note: These tips are to help you get
started with an open mic night. There is a separate list of tips on
how to host one once it is up and running.
Talk to your musician friends and
acquaintances to let them know about your idea for an open mic night.
Ask your musician friends A LOT
of question about what THEY would like to see in an open mic night.
Don't assume their answers will be the same as yours. Some may want very relaxed events, others may want something a little more professional and even competitive. The styles of music they want to play may also be quite diverse.
Listen to what they have to say
and take notes.
Get commitment in principle from your friends
to play at the planned open mic. Follow up with your friends who
have already committed once the venue, time and other details are established.
Find a venue that meets the needs
of the potential performers as well as your own. Search around for the best option by
visiting several places BEFORE asking to hold the event there.
Remember in addition to pubs, bars and cafes, church halls,
community centers, and clubs may also be open to hosting an open mic
night.
If the venue does not already have
audio equipment, find it from another source and plan how you will
get it there. If you do not know how to operate the audio equipment
learn how, or ensure that you have someone else who can do it for
you. Good sound can make or break your evening.
Approach the venue operator
letting them know the advantages to them that holding an open mic night
would bring. Let the venue owner know you've already gathered
several musicians and will be advertising to keep a fresh stream of great talent (and new customers) flowing.
Once you have a venue establish,
ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE. Word of mouth advertising is
still the best form, so chat up the idea with your friends and ask
them to do the same. Remember even non-musicians may want to know
about it. In addition to performers, you will need an audience,
especially one that is supportive of the musician and the venue hosting the event. Use all social media available to you and keep it updated regularly. If using a facebook group, consider encouraging members to post photos and links to their recordings. Make this a platform for emerging musicians to get a bit of extra press...they will help you get the word out about the open mic if they know their music is being promoted along with it. Monitor all social media and remember to keep discussions clean, encouraging and friendly.
Establish the House Rules and
stick with them. How do people sign up? How long does each performer have? What type of
music can they play? Are other things like comedy acts and poetry
readings also allowed? Be sure musicians know thee rules in advance so they can prepare accordingly.
Most importantly, HAVE FUN and ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO ENJOY THE NIGHT TOO!!!! We live in a world that craves social connection, music and art. Hosting an open mic night takes work, but it can be A LOT of fun that fills a deep human need.
In case you have any other questions about hosting an Open Mic or songwriting, feel free to contact me at katrinaboguski (at) hotmail.ca. All the best to you in hosting your own Open Mic...You can do it!
Check back to read Top 10 tips for hosting
an established open mic night! Please also remember to follow the blog for updates.
If you're already hosting an Open Mic Night,
please check here to see if it's on the list....if not, let me know why it should be!
On the quest to find the best Open Mic Night on the West Coast, several readers have nominated different venues in Vancouver, Bellingham and Auburn. Is your favorite on the list? Do you have another one you would like to nominate?
Check out the list of Open Mic Nights suggested for the Life is Like a Rocket Tour here. If you don't see your venue listed be sure to e-mail me the details.
Readers of this blog come from all over North America and the UK. Lately it looks like there is a significant increase in readers form Portland Oregon and Kansas City Missouri. So, it seems appropriate to say a special hello to people from those places. Thanks for reading and sharing the blog with your friends and fellow musicians. Thanks also for e-mails and comments.
One of the great joys of writing this blog is keeping in touch with readers and hearing their recordings or answering questions about songwriting. If you have questions, or if you want to collaborate on music for my lyrics, please e-mail me at katrinaboguski (AT) hotmail.ca. Be sure to check out the archives for lyrics and poems posted there if you have only stumbled up on this blog recently.
This post is part of a series of posts on developing creativity and sharing your art with the world; in other words its about creating and shipping, no matter what. You can read previous Shipments to the Mountain here, or come back to them at some later time. If you'd like to see particular issues relating to creativity covered, or if you have a specific question you would like answered, please drop me a note at katrinaboguski (at) hotmail.ca. I enjoy receiving e-mails from readers and will do my best to reply with 2-3 days. If you do not get an answer by then, please resend your message as spam filters sometimes prevent messages from reaching me.
Contents:
Musical Notes
A list of song lyrics
Hot off the Espresso
A quote of the week
Artful challenge
Word of the week
Frugal Recipe
Listening Suggestions
Joke of the Week
Question of the Week
Musical Notes:
This was a week of minor irritations, setbacks, and delays, all of which seem to be a necessary part of living, and all of which are pretty small in the grand scheme of life and the world. These tiny bumps along the road can be irritating until we remember that life is a bumpy road. We've been conditioned to believe that life is a highway and that our job is to travel along it at breakneck speed. That is not our job. The job of a creative person is to turn even setbacks into learning opportunities, and to share those lessons with others through art, whatever form of art it is that we do.
Considering how hard people had to work in the past even to get materials to work with can help us appreciate how easy we have it today. We can easily take for granted that we will be able to get what we want, when we want and that the price and quality will be even better than what we want. It was not always this way. The folk musician of a few generations ago worked long hours in the fields or the factories and with the short time available to him for leisure created the ballads we still hand on today. The woodcarver of old chopped down by hand the tree he would carve by hand, and passed along his gift by hand to the person he made it for, often without money being exchanged. It is this personal contact and close interaction with the materials we form into works of art that adds value to our lives and the lives of others. It is this value, the value of personal connection that we crave so desperately in our world today. This personal connection is found on bumpy roads that often lead up hill. Few people want to travel uphill on rough roads and so few people reap the rewards of doing so. It is always worth the effort, although we may not realize it until years later. If given the option between effort and convenience, effort is often the better choice. Convenience comes at a cost that is often far greater than we imagined.
The concept of convenience is something that seems unique to the past sixty years or so. If people were given something "conveniently" in generations past, they called it at "windfall". When the wind caused tree branches to fall people did not have to work so hard chopping down wood for fuel. This fortunate find of free or easily gained wood was called a windfall and this term was extended to other easily gained items too, especial money. They viewed this happy circumstance as a gift from God. It was something that the natural rhythms of the world provided from time to time, and they gratefully accepted it when it happened. A true windfall cannot be chased after, it is by its very nature a gift. We can prepare to receive it, but cannot demand it. Such gifts usually come after a storm.
Today we have a tendency to want and even expect a windfall without the stormy weather that brings the branches down. Perhaps the lesson is to be grateful for either the work we need to do, or the bad weather; both inspire art and both have their rewards. Both bring their crosses and both bring their eventual triumphs. Art is work. That is why your best work is called an "opus", the Latin word for work.
This Week's Lyrics:
No new lyrics this week, please check out these ones written earlier.
Quote of the Week: "Sanctity is made up of heroic acts. Therefore, in our work we are asked for the heroism of finishing properly the tasks committed to us, day after day, even though they are the same tasks.” (Saint JosemarÃa)
Artful challenge for the week:
Learn Something New Challenge
This week the challenge is to learn something new. Something you have never done before. You can choose from a list of things that you have always wanted to do, or brainstorm entirely new ideas. If you have difficulty coming up with an idea, consider doing a bit a of research on other cultures; perhaps there is a dance, an instrument, or an art form common in one culture that is completely foreign to you. Looking outside of your industry or area of study will also help to generate ideas
Once you've found the new thing you want to do, start AT THE BEGINNINGand learn how to do it. Don't skip a step, don't jump to the intermediate level. Start at the beginning. Walk through the steps (crawl if you have to) but savor that very first lesson, that first page in a how-to book, that launching into the unknown that used to be a common experience for us as children. As we age, we have a tendency to look for the familiar, to stick with things we know. This is efficient; it's comfortable, it's easy. It's also profoundly boring. It is also unsafe. We tell ourselves that sticking with the tried and true is safe, but in a world that changes as rapidly as ours, sticking with the known is anything but safe. The people who thrive in today's world are those who can learn to adapt quickly, who are comfortable being uncomfortable with new things. The skills and attitudes required to adapt quickly can be learned. You can learn them, likely you are learning them right now. How do you learn to do something new? By doing something new.
Word of the week:
"self-efficacy"
The concept of self-efficacy has been something that has interested me for a long time. We could spend hours on the nature vs. nurture debate arguing whether self-efficacy is something that people are born with or they develop over time. Let me avoid the argument by saying it is likely a bit of both. While some people may naturally have more believe in their abilities, such belief can be cultivated by reinforcement from our surroundings. Over the years it has been proven to me time and time again that one of the best ways to develop "self-efficacy" is to pick up our crosses daily. At the end of the day when we look back and see that we have made it through, our belief in our own abilities grows. The paradox is that God always gives a cross that is exactly the weight we can manage. As our ability to do more grows, the weight of our crosses does to. Pick it up anyway. Believe that you can do it and suddenly the weight is not so much to bear. Look up "self-efficacy" and increase your belief in yourself. If God believes you can do something, and you believe you can't, I guarantee you God is right and you are wrong.
Frugal Recipe: Magnificent Macaroni
My area has a thriving start-up community. It's exciting to be part of this new economy where small companies with big ideas can become "overnight" success stories. These companies come from different sectors; anything from technology and gaming to recycling, eco-tourism and manufacturing. Before they were an overnight success though, most had one thing in common. Their founders had little or no money. While many have been successful thanks to contributions from angel investors and incubator groups, attracting that investment usually comes AFTER the founders have proven their ability to build something from nothing. Their "overnight" success discounts the many nights, months or even years struggling to get by on less than the basic necessities of life.
One trick start-up founders use to get through the tough times is to live on ramen noodles or macaroni. We call this the "ramen noodle phase" of development and everyone seems to go through it. Many writers, artists and students have discovered this "secret recipe" to success too. Macaroni is a part of everyone's life at some point, especially when we are working through difficult underfunded projects. Once we are over our difficult times, macaroni becomes a comfort food for which we become nostalgic. While we are in that start-up phase however, another macaroni meal can seem like a life sentence. If you are in that phase you might enjoy the lyrics to "The Macaroni Blues" .You might also enjoy this frugal recipe which can be prepared in the same time it takes to make regular macaroni, and uses only a few more easily attained ingredients.
It's great for any meal and also works well to take to a pot luck dinner. Once cooked you can transfer it to a casserole dish and reheat the leftovers.
Boil a pot of water and cook the macaroni according to the instructions on the package. You can also use other types of pasta like penne, or rotini too. Whatever type you use, it is best if you cook it until it is "al dente" or firm.
While the macaroni is cooking, chop two sticks of celery and some garlic. Add as much garlic as you like; more if there is a threat of vampires in your area.
Saute (In case you're new to cooking, that's a fancy word for fry) the celery and the garlic in some butter or oil. Use a tablespoon or two, just enough to keep the celery and garlic from sticking to the pan. Using a spatula to stir it up a bit also helps prevent the food sticking to the pan. You want the celery to remain a bit crunchy for texture, so don't over cook it.
Pour the cooked macaroni into the pan and add some source of protein, (cooked meat or cooked fish such as canned tuna, canned beans, or tofu.). You can use whatever is your favorite, or whatever you have on hand. Use the spatula to ensure everything is mixed in well.
In the photo you will see this version uses garbanzo beans or chick peas. This recipe has an infinite variety of combinations. In addition to changing up the protein portion, you can substitute carrots, onions, or other vegetables for the celery. If you really want to go wild add multiple vegetables for improved nutrition and added color.
Next add a can of cream of mushroom soup (you can substitute other types of soup such as cream of celery or tomato; use what you have on hand). Stir gently until the soup begins to bubble; be careful not to burn it as is it will cook very quickly.
Serve in a bowl. You can add a garnish or melt some cheese on top if you like.
Listening Suggestions:
Proud Mary CCR
Cadillac Ranch Springsteen
Cadillac Ranch Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (compare the two versions)
Pretend Nat King Cole
Joke of the week:
The kidney transplant society held a benefit concert but very few people attended. When they reviewed their advertisements the reason for the poor attendance became clear. It read:
Kidney transplant society benefit concert
Organ recital, admission by donation.
Question of the week:
This week a reader asked if I would promote his open mic night...the answer is a resounding yes. I'm looking for open mic nights down the west coast. Later I hope to expand the territory but for now am concentrating on the West Coast from Vancouver British Columbia down to San Diego California. If you know of a good open mic night, even if it's off the beaten path, please e-mail me the details. My plan is to visit the best of these open mic nights in 2015 as part of the "Life is like a Rocket Tour" which will culminate at Croce's Park West in San Diego. Check back for further details or sign up for e-mail updates from this blog to stay in the loop. My hope is to meet a lot of readers on the tour down the coast and hear their music first hand. Hopefully you will be able to make it too.
Next "Shipment to the Mountain" ships on Thursday for anyone who wants it. Please share this post with others who may enjoy the read.
Write three pages freehand every morning. Don't edit it; don't read it, just write it.
Devote your peak hours to creativity. If you're a morning person carve out time at the beginning of the day. If you're a night owl, reserve these hours for your creative work.
Spend time in nature. No one is more creative than the Creator. There's a lot to learn from him.
Try different forms of creative expression; it could be that you have not yet discovered your best medium.
Make a list of creative projects you want to do.
Do the creative projects on your list, starting with the one that scares you the most.
Set a deadline for one of your creative projects and meet it.
Pray for inspiration.
Ask for feedback on your work. If there is something to be gained from the feedback learn from it, if not thank the person who offered it and move on.
Be the best you can be, nothing more, nothing less.
We're all creative.
Sometimes the creative breakthrough we've been waiting for is just around the corner.
September 3rd is the feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great. He was responsible for revising the calendar which is why it's called the "Gregorian calendar". He also developed many of the chants still used in the church today, which is why such singing is called "Gregorian chant". Among other things he is the patron of musicians and singers, which is why he manages to get a few words written about him here.
While pop musicians such as Sinead O'cconor have attempted to capitalize on the immense musical treasury of Gregorian chant, her work cannot compare to that of the real experts in this field. Benedictine monks have kept the practice of singing Gregorian chant alive for centuries and their voices cannot help but raise our hearts toward the heavens.
Saint Gregory reportedly said, "He is not wise to me who is wise in words only, but he who is wise in deeds." If you would speak of music today, be wise enough to make some too, or at the very least do the deed of listening to some great music and share it with others.
My list of comforts is a bit longer than Cicero's, but only slightly, and it definitely includes musical instruments. As people strive to find more value in life by simplifying and downsizing their possessions, music often becomes more important not less. It seems that music, and specifically music making, is a primal need; music exists in every culture. Whether you're seeking to satisfy that primal need, or whether some other motivation is causing you to consider taking up a musical instrument for the first time, the tinwhistle can be a great starting point. It is inexpensive, easy to learn, readily available around the world, and most importantly makes great music when in the hands of someone who has learned how to use it well. Recently I found my tinwhistle under my bread-maker. This happy rediscovery of its existence caused me to feel a bit of guilt that I had not bothered to play it all summer, but at the same time it made me eager to share a few words about this instrument. Although neglected these last few months, the tinwhistle has been an important part of my life for the past few years. Its importance to me was not so much that I spent a lot of time playing the instrument, but rather that it gave me accesses to an inexpensive portable instrument and somehow connected me with the hundreds of thousands (possibly millions) of other tin-whistle players around the world. It was discovering how popular the instrument is becoming again thanks to You-tube instructional videos, that got me interested in learning how to play it. A young student of mine first introduced me to the sound of the tinwhistle many years ago. He was so great at making music with it that I assumed it would be a difficult instrument to play. The online instruction broke the process down into steps and gave me the confidence to try it myself.
Self-efficacy is an important part of music making. In other words, believing you have the ability to play a musical instrument goes a long way to your being able to actually do so. If you have difficulty believing you will be able to play an instrument, then guess what, you will have difficulty. Starting with a simple instrument like the tinwhistle can help you launch into the world of music, but to get off the ground, you have to believe you can. These humble instruments can produce a wonderful sound in the right hands. James Galway, the legendary flute player, got his start on a tinwhistle and his recordings demonstrate the beautiful sound that can be produced with it. With practice, you too may become a great musician.
Before reaching the virtuosity of great players like Galway, a few basics need to be learned. Some of these have to do with learning how to handle the instrument itself, others have to do with the basic discipline of learning any musical instrument. Perhaps most importantly at the beginning, you need to develop a sense that it is possible to learn this new skill. While much has been made of the "10,000 hour rule", the amount of time required to be an expert in something, Josh Kaufman explains that it can take as little as 20 hours to learn the basics of anything new.
By breaking down a skill into its essential elements and focusing on the fundamentals, we can learn new things well enough to master the basics. Before learning more about the tinwhistle itself, watching this video about how we learn new things will help prime your mind for the experience of taking up this new instrument.
Be sure to check back for more info on the tinwhistle and how to learn to play it.
Several years ago I went on a train trip across North America. Beginning in Vancouver, down to Seattle, across the northern United States, down south as far as Florida then back up the east coast into Montreal and back west through Canada. It was an amazing solo trip lasting a month. Along the way I met many people and saw many sights, memories of which often come to mind when I am writing lyrics. The constant "chick-a-dee, chick-a-dee, chick-a-dee..." sound of the train on the tracks also comes back when working on certain rhythms. The train has a series of unique percussion sounds that start to influence the timing of conversation while on board. The noise is inescapable, and for those who like train travel, ever so pleasant.
A few days ago I was on a model steam railway at Burnaby's Confederation Park. This experience brought back the memory of the sound of a real train and the realization of how much the sound of trains are part of my life. Much of my life has been lived within earshot of the trains and their sound has always been a comforting one in my life. My proximity to trains no doubt influences why their imagery and sound so often seep into my work. The realization of their influence caused me to ponder what frequent external sounds impact the music of other musicians. Do train sounds influence your music? Is it the sound of crashing waves or certain birds that act as the accompaniment to your words? I'd love to know what influences your work so please leave a comment or send me an e-mail (katrinaboguski(at) hotmail.ca to chime in on this discussion.
One of the great pleasures of my life
is stumbling upon true stories that resonate with my values. These
stories seem to emerge when they are most needed and often through
unexpected sources. The history of the Clarke's Tinwhistle is one
such story. It came to my attention while doing research for a review
of the instruments they produce. The Clarke Tinwhistle Company was
founded by Robert Clarke in 1843 and is one of those rags to riches
stories about entrepreneurial success that has the power to stoke
the fire burning in every emerging musician or owner of a start-up.
These days many artists find themselves being both an artist and an
entrepreneur, responsible for not only creating their music but also
producing it and marketing it. Robert Clarke would have related to
many of the challenges musicians face today, and his ability to
supply a product that met the challenges of financially strapped, Irish whistle players
made him a legend in his day.
In case you're wondering, “tinwhistle”
is not at typo, the word according to Clarkes is in fact spelled
“tinwhistle” not “tin whistle” or “tin-whistle”. The
original black whistle made of tin was invented by the Englishman
Robert Clarke. It also became known as the penny-whistle or
Irish-whistle. The term penny-whistle emerged because it was so
inexpensive to purchase and the term Irish-whistle developed because
the instrument was so popular among Irish laborers. The price of
the whistle no doubt made it appealing to the Irish working class who
often worked for meager wages at home and abroad. The tinwhistle's
arrival in the marketplace was well timed to coincide with the
potato famine that drove many Irish to seek new opportunities in
Canada, the U.S., Australia, and other countries around the world.
Wherever they went, the whistle playing members of the Irish diaspora
brought the Clarke's tinwhistle with them.
This instrument of humble origin is
still known around the globe. It is once again growing in popularity
thanks to several on-line tutorials that teach how to play the
instrument step by step. In addition to the tutorials you will find
videos of renowned musicians such as James Galway producing wonderful
music from the tinwhistle. According to Galway, “In the hands of a
master [the tinwhistle] is a real virtuoso instrument”.
Yet none of its popularity and
virtuosity could have existed without the entrepreneurial spirit of
Robert Clarke. On the website for the company he founded, you will
find Clarke described as “...uneducated, hard-working, deeply
religious and devoted to his family.” This description is hardly
the sort one would write about most people on Wall Street, so it's nice to
hear that, on occasion, fortune turns its wheel to favour the little
guy struggling to live well. Prior to manufacturing the now famous
whistles, he worked on a farm where he was accused of poor work
habits. Such accusations were unfounded and in protest he refused to
continue working for the farmer. At that time he learned of the new
material called tin and decided to use some of it to fashion the
prototype for the now famous Clarke's tinwhistle. According to the
company, the first one he made did not have wooden mouthpiece that
subsequent whistles had because he did not own a saw. Instead he used
one of the ribs from his wife's corset which he shaped with a file.
From this meager start, Clarke became a wealthy man by making an
excellent product that appealed to the masses. Through this product
the joy of music was brought to the world; possibly to your own home
too.
Check back for more information on the
Clarke's tinwhistle in upcoming posts. Posts related to instrument reviews and other product reviews will be a regular feature on this blog
going forward. If you miss a post, please be sure to check the
archives or search the blog using the term “product review”.
This post is part of a series of posts on developing creativity and sharing your art with the world; in other words its about creating and shipping, no matter what. You can read last week's Shipment to the Mountain here, or come back to it at some later time. If you'd like to see particular issues relating to creativity covered, or if you have a specific question you would like answered, please drop me a note at katrinaboguski (at) hotmail.ca. I enjoy receiving e-mails from readers and will do my best to reply with 2-3 days. If you do not get an answer by then, please resend your message as spam filters sometimes prevent messages from reaching me.
Contents:
Musical Notes
A list of song lyrics
Hot off the Espresso
A quote of the week
Artful challenge
Word of the week
Frugal Recipe
Listening Suggestions
Joke of the Week
Question of the Week
Musical Notes:
This week's highlights involved reconnecting with some old friends whose love of singing I've always admired. While the exchanges with them, for the most part, centered around topics other than music, hearing from them reminded me how good it is to connect with people we've known for years.
Another high point of the week was the re-discovery of my Irish tin whistle which had been misplaced and largely forgotten about. It was found under another largely forgotten about item, the bread-maker. Finding the tin whistle solved at least three problems for me. If you care to read about how these problems were solved by finding the tin whistle you can do so here; perhaps reading it might solve one of your problems too.
Finally, this week's challenge to myself was to listen to other indie singer / songwriters. I attended the open mic night at Trees Organic Coffee and Roasting House in Vancouver where I enjoyed music from a variety of local performers. In addition to hearing these live performances, I also checked out several recordings including two music videos introduced to me by Glen Trujillo of California. The imagery on the first video featuring the song The City captured my attention and reminded me of some of the themes that were going through my head when I wrote Lullaby for the Sheltered. Both of our songs come face to face with the issue of homelessness which can be ignored easily by many in our world. Glen is currently working on some new songs as well as revisiting some of his earlier work. I'm looking forward to hearing more of the old stuff as well as the new songs as soon as they are available. More of Glen's work can be found on his facebook page. Please take a moment to check out his work.
Quote of the Week: "How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them." Benjamin Franklin
Artful challenge for the week:
Mend it Challenge
Songs often come to me automatically. When this happens the challenge is to get them down on paper quickly before they fade away or are forgotten. If a pen and paper or keyboard are not handy, there is a tendency to keep singing the song in my head until I can write it down. That often leads to very long songs; the longer they are sung, the more verses get added.
Participating in various song writing groups gives me the opportunity to edit the songs so that the original version can be improved...and usually shortened. I am very grateful for how feedback from songwriting forums improves weak spots that are not always obvious to me, even after reading and singing the lyrics dozens of times
It never ceases to amaze me how simply going back and mending a few small rough spots can fix the whole piece. The same thing holds true in other areas of life.
Fixing a tear in some clothes, fixing a hinge on a door, or mending a leaky faucet are all small things that are easily put off precisely because they are small. Yet, when many of these little broken bits surround us, life becomes stressful, disappointing and, well broken.
The challenge this week is to fix something; anything. Use your tools or your sewing box, some glue or a hammer and a nail. Mend something broken in your life, even a broken friendship or a fence to give you healthier boundaries. What ever it is fix it. Keep the job small to start, and move on to something else if you still have time. Sometimes fixing several small things is more energizing than tackling one big project.
After you've mended something, go back and mend your art. Make an edit, do a re-write, re-arrange a melody or introduce a new step. Mend it with the intention of making it stronger, better, more enjoyable art. Share the mended version with someone new.
Word of the week:
"dictation"
This word seemed worth exploring after hearing a quote from G.K. Chesterton where he said, "Ten thousand women marched through the streets shouting, 'We will not be dictated to,' and went off and became stenographers." Chesterton's observations of society are priceless and his whit impeccable. His reference to the idea of dictation made me think of how few people dictate letters today or bother to write them at all. It made me consider the many tyrannical dictators running around the world today dictating all sorts of insanity. It made me remember the dictation tests that used to be part of French class; and for some reason it also made me thing of Dick Tracy, whose name sounds similar to dictation when spoken very quickly.
Consider this word and its different meanings. How many other words have the same root...hint on the first one, you can look in the dictionary to find many more.
Frugal Recipe:
These recipes are intended to help you explore being creative in the realm of cooking. They are intentionally vague in order to get you to experiment, either by researching more precise recipes, or by just winging it until you're satisfied with the results. My cooking tends to be pretty spontaneous, and the results are usually better for me when I follow my intuition rather than a recipe book. If you prefer step by step instructions, there are lots of recipes available on line for these sort of pancakes. I started enjoying these simple but delicious pancakes after hearing Dick Proenneke mention them on the PBS documentary Alone in the Wilderness. If you haven't had a chance to view this stunning work about Proenneke's largely self-sufficient life in the Alaskan wilderness, be sure to check it out the next time it is aired, or you can purchase the DVD of it online. It is pure art.
Sourdough Pancakes:
Sourdough Starter
Flour
Sugar
Salt
Oil or butter
In a bowl mix the sourdough starter, flour, sugar and salt until it is the consistency of pancake batter. The amount you mix will depend on how hungry you are. The proportions of ingredients will depend on how sweet and thick you prefer your pancakes. The thinner the batter the thinner the pancake.
Add oil or butter to a hot frying pan, pour in the batter and cook until the top of the pancake starts to bubble. Flip the pancake and cook until it is golden. My pancake flipping technique could use some work. There is about a 50/50 chance of my breaking up the pancake at this point, and every now and then they work out perfectly. The fact that I'm only showing a photo of the pancake in its "pre-flipped" state suggests how this one turned out. The good news is that with 50/50 odds, my next one should be perfect.
Serve the pancakes hot. You can add syrup and butter if you prefer or some fruit. I tend to eat mine plain because they taste so good on their own. (If you don't have some already, you can find instructions for how to make sourdough starter in here.
Listening Suggestions:
Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes Paul Simon
Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash
The Gambler Kenny Rogers
The Log Driver's Waltz Written by Wade Hemsworth (this is a well known Canadian folk song that might be new to readers from other areas)
The Sourdough / Miner's Song Written by Bill Staines
Joke of the week:
A musicologist was wandering the hills of Kentucky collecting old folk songs. As he met with one family of musicians he would ask to be introduced to other families in the area who were also known for keeping their musical traditions alive. These families were dirt poor, but incredibly talented musically. He began noticing that despite their poverty each of the old women wore an enormous diamond ring on her wedding ring finger. He did not want to be rude, but finally his curiosity got the better of him. He asked an old woman who was wearing the biggest diamond yet how it was that amid the poverty of the Appalachians, the women could afford such rings. "It's not all women who's got these" replied the old lady as she held up her ring-clad hand. "It's just us old women. When we was young our husbands were too poor to buy us gold and diamonds so they fastened a lump of coal to a brass ring" "How did you end up with the diamonds then," Asked the confused musicologist. The woman replied, "A diamond ain't nothing but a lump of coal that's been under pressure for a lot of years. Nothing has more pressure and lasts as long as a marriage in these hills."
Question of the week:
Every week I get questions sent to me that cause me to ponder my work from a different angle. It was the desire for this sort of exchange that inspired me to start writing a blog in the first place.
This week's question was a real game changer for me. It came in response to an e-mail I had sent to an acquaintance whose music and photography had acted as a source of inspiration for me a few years ago. I was looking for a cheap guitar and asked if he could keep an eye open for a castoff, used one that might be floating around among his music friends. While he obligingly agreed to keep an ear open for a hand-me-down guitar, he replied with the question, "Why don't you just buy a good guitar?" I replied immediately with some line about not wanting to spend money on an expensive instrument right now; but somehow after pushing the send button I was was not quite satisfied with that answer. The question tumbled around in my head for a few days until I realized that I was avoiding an expensive guitar in part because I was not sure what sort of guitar to buy. I wanted to hone my skills on a cheap one before making the commitment to purchase something better.
It seems many people may be in the same predicament when considering what instrument to commit to, and might like the opportunity to learn more about how each instrument might meet their needs. This idea of trying out and researching several guitars led to the idea of writing product reviews to share with readers who may also be considering a new instrument. The first of these reviews will be available shortly. Sellers and manufacturers of instruments wanting to have their products reviewed can e-mail me at katrinaboguski (At) hotmail.ca for details on how to submit your products.
Next "Shipment to the Mountain" ships on Thursday for anyone who wants it. Please share this post with others who may enjoy the read.
