Especially appropriate as we prepare to go into the studio to record Christmas carols tomorrow!
A nice Friday thought
Yes, it IS a wonderful world!
And it strikes me that music is a big part of what makes the world as wonderful as it is.
This video certainly illustrates that point (sincere thanks to Marian, a friend from college days, for sharing it with me).
Choir! Choir! Choir! specializes in assembling massive numbers of strangers for the experience of singing and making music together. And what fun they have; you can see the joy level going through the roof!
What I think is that we all need to be singing with other humans. Who knows? It just might be what saves the world.
So much joy!
I love how this photo captures the joy shining in all the faces and how, if you look closely, you can feel the bonds of divine friendship flowing through the entire group.
And this was at the beginning of rehearsal, before we had sung a single note!
Our Christmas concert preparations are definitely off to a great start.
An afternoon in Italia…
…without leaving Ananda Village!
A group of us gathered to sing Swamiji’s Italian songs, eat bruschetta and other Italian-themed goodies, and listen to stories about time spent in Italia–at Ananda Assisi itself or as part of small or large singing groups over the years.
Ten or so of us shared our living-in-Italy experiences and it made me rather nostalgic.
Singing about joy with joy
There was lots of joy in the Temple of Light this morning as we sang “There’s Joy in the Heavens.”
I was particularly gratified to hear (and feel) how “tight” the ensemble is sounding. My favorite thing is being able to completely relax and simply enjoy singing with the group…and that most definitely happened today.
It feels great to be back
My voice is a little out of shape — it’s been two months, after all! — and my lingering cough didn’t help matters.
But what a joy to be singing for Sunday service again!
New vision for Village music
This is what our big meeting last night was about. It went really well; I feel we’re headed in some exciting new directions.
So, this is the new vision:
To broaden and expand community singing at the Village, while also presenting the highest quality and purest musical expression possible when broadcasting worldwide.
Our goal is to have MORE people singing — and in more ways — than before the pandemic. To help accomplish this we proposed three levels of involvement, depending on a person’s life circumstances, individual inclination, and energy level. Each individual gets to choose what’s right for them.
LEVEL 1 – Community All-Sing Choir
Fun and spontaneous; melody only (or parts if you want to); once a quarter sing-alongs
LEVEL 2 – Village Choir
Community attunement; singing in parts; two evenings a month; informal performances
LEVEL 3 – Performance Ensemble
Commitment and follow through; regular weekly rehearsals; perform for Sunday services, as well as possible outreach and recording
What’s really fun is that more ideas came up during the meeting, from people who are enthusiastic about helping to make them happen — specifically regarding more involvement for children and families, as well as more support for “newbies” who are just learning the music.
All in all, it’s an adventurous new phase for music at Ananda Village.
A productive Sunday
This morning was about singing for Sunday service (which included a beautiful talk by our friend, Erin!).
I spent the afternoon absorbed in reading the memoir of Maurice White and learning more about his vision for founding one of my all-time favorite bands: Earth, Wind & Fire. Really inspiring stuff, which I’ll probably share more about in the future.
Finally I needed to spend some time on my Italian, which has become a priority since we’ll be going to Europe in April to visit Ramesha’s family after an absence of almost four years. I’m determined to be able actually to converse with my in-laws and our close friends, so I’m quite grateful to have discovered a wonderful program called Italiano Automatico, which I’m listening to every day.
So the next installment of how I continued to get to know Swami Kriyananda will have to wait until tomorrow.
The first time I sang for Swamiji
I believe this was also the first time I met Swami Kriyananda in person (I met him “in consciousness” the first time I heard him sing “Love Is a Magician,” but that’s another story).
This was March 4, 2000 and Swamiji was visiting from Assisi; the first time he’d come to the USA in a few years. I was part of the small singing ensemble that was invited to sing for him that morning in Asha and David’s apartment in the Palo Alto community.
I wish I could remember more details (what did we sing? when did he first arrive? was that really my first time meeting him?), but I didn’t understand at the time just how precious these experiences were.
I wish I had taken notes of everything.
Wonderful to be back
What a joy to be back in the Temple of Light singing and chanting once again!
My ultimate happy place, enjoying my favorite healing activity, with some of my favorite people.