It's almost too unbearable to contemplate the death of a woman in Charlottesville, VA due to racial hatred and violence. The light filled mornings of my time on the Cape will become clouded over soon with the oppression of everyday news if I do not focus on the positive - the "one good thing" each day.
Fortunately I woke this morning to the voice of Krista Tippett as I have many a Sunday morning. Her guest was young musician Craig Minowa whose band Cloud Cult is considered indie-alt rock, but whose music is more about seeking light and meaning in life. Craig's two year old son died mysteriously in his sleep a few years back. His albums Light Chaser and The Seeker both speak of the search for meaning and light in every day because we just don't know who brief and unexpected our lives might be.
So today's post is really an unabashed plug for several young musicians including Craig.
This morning after hearing Craig on the radio early, I took the Governor's Island ferry over to the Rite of Summer Music Festival to hear my son's friend Finnegan Shanahan perform his orchestral suite The Two Halves with Contemporaneous, a contemporary classical music ensemble. What a delight to hear this music live. Finn has a beautiful voice as well as deep skills as a composer.
The album references the Hudson River and its dual nature as a tidal river.
Finally I drove from Governor's Island up to The Tompkins Corner Cultural Center on Peekskill Hollow Road in Putnam Valley, NY - a full 1 1/2 hours north to hear my fiddle teacher and friend Harry Bolick perform songs from his encyclopedic new book Mississippi Fiddle Tunes and Songs from the 1930's (University of Mississippi Press). Co-authored by Stephen T. Austin this book contains 320 tunes collected by Works Progress Administration field workers during the Depression along with many photos of fiddlers and a history of the WPA field recording.
You can hear some of the tunes at www.mississippifiddle.com.
Harry was accompanied by yet another talented young musician, the versatile Nathan Bontrager who played cello, but is equally comfortable on fiddle. He's an international old time and traditional music player who is also immersed in the world of new music. He currently resides in Germany.
Fortunately I woke this morning to the voice of Krista Tippett as I have many a Sunday morning. Her guest was young musician Craig Minowa whose band Cloud Cult is considered indie-alt rock, but whose music is more about seeking light and meaning in life. Craig's two year old son died mysteriously in his sleep a few years back. His albums Light Chaser and The Seeker both speak of the search for meaning and light in every day because we just don't know who brief and unexpected our lives might be.
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| Craig Minowa of Cloud Cult |
So today's post is really an unabashed plug for several young musicians including Craig.
This morning after hearing Craig on the radio early, I took the Governor's Island ferry over to the Rite of Summer Music Festival to hear my son's friend Finnegan Shanahan perform his orchestral suite The Two Halves with Contemporaneous, a contemporary classical music ensemble. What a delight to hear this music live. Finn has a beautiful voice as well as deep skills as a composer.
The album references the Hudson River and its dual nature as a tidal river.
 |
| Finn Shanahan and Contemporaneous at Rite of Summer Festival |
Finally I drove from Governor's Island up to The Tompkins Corner Cultural Center on Peekskill Hollow Road in Putnam Valley, NY - a full 1 1/2 hours north to hear my fiddle teacher and friend Harry Bolick perform songs from his encyclopedic new book Mississippi Fiddle Tunes and Songs from the 1930's (University of Mississippi Press). Co-authored by Stephen T. Austin this book contains 320 tunes collected by Works Progress Administration field workers during the Depression along with many photos of fiddlers and a history of the WPA field recording.
You can hear some of the tunes at www.mississippifiddle.com.
 |
| Tompkin's Corner Cultural Center, Putnam Valley, NY |
Harry was accompanied by yet another talented young musician, the versatile Nathan Bontrager who played cello, but is equally comfortable on fiddle. He's an international old time and traditional music player who is also immersed in the world of new music. He currently resides in Germany.
 |
| Harry and Nathan in front of WPA Photos |
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Please tell me what good thing you encountered today.