New Year's Eve
Wishing you all good things at the turning of the year.
May each of us share the light and light each other’s ways as we walk through the year ahead -- and may we all share in the music, as well.
Thank you for walking the music road with me, and for being part of a community of readers which circles the world, from New Zealand to Chile, from Thailand to Romania, from Hawaii to Tucson to San Marcos and Austin, to Eden Prairie, Minnesota, to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Tallahassee, Florida, to Bloomington, Indiana, to Medford, Massachusetts, up through Halifax, Sydney, and St. John’s in the Maritimes, over to Calgary on the western plains, across the wide ocean to Stornoway in the Western Isles, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Perth in Scotland’s east, all through the central belt from Edinburgh to Glasgow, to Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and over to Ireland, from Waterford to Cork to Kerry to Limerick to Galway to Sligo to Donegal to Tyrone and through Derry, Belfast, Armagh, Down, Louth, Meath, and Dublin.
You’ll know, perhaps, that here along the music road I often write reflections on creative practice with ideas for music to accompany them, as well as writing on music and musicians. At this turning of the year, here is a look back at several of my favorite reflections, and yours, from the year that’s turning.
here are two from the winter holidays
listening to Christmas: Shannon Heaton, Cathie Ryan, Mary Black, Hanneke Cassel
third week in Advent: connection
and three from earlier this year
patrick season: music and mist
trust and music
music and focus
you may also wish to see
Delicious Baby's Photo Friday, where travelers offer new insights to the world each Friday.
Labels: creative practice, new year, new years eve, reflection
“The Christmas season begins as soon as we play Tuck's marvelous instrumental album--great playing and great arrangements that have stood the test of time for us--this is probably our favorite Christmas album,” Heaton says.
“because Garth--like Brad Paisley--can actually play guitar and write his own songs, his records tend to pay respect to writers and to music,” Heaton says. “His rendition of The Friendly Beasts has each person who contributed a song to the album singing a verse. This is pure class, and makes for a very sweet sound.” Handel's Messiah is another Christmas favorite at the Heaton household. “Matt's dad is an organist,” Shannon says, “and it's a joy for him to hear the Messiah without having to turn pages--hearing Handel around Christmas for us is like hearing bagpipes at a wedding or a funeral... it's perfect tradition that never ceases to move us.”
and still listen to it a lot every year. And Elvis' Christmas Album will be in heavy rotation along with The Chieftains, 
" she says. “I have rakes of Christmas music that I mix in with those three, including Blue Yule featuring Lightnin' Hopkins on Rhino - great collection, The Temptations, The Chipmunks, A Very Special Christmas.
on Narada. “I play that one when I have friends over at the holidays,” she says.” It is wonderful as background music or it can be forefront when I am sitting by the tree in the dark watching the lights flicker and the fire flame in the hearth. Another CD I love is The Soul of Christmas. It was produced by the late Johnny Cunningham and features some beautiful songs and arrangements. Sadly, it is no longer available. But it always reminds me of Johnny. And Christmas is like that, isn't it? If you're lucky, you get to spend it with those you love and those who are gone come visit, they fill the room and remind us that life is short and love is very long.”
has all that.
who sing Gregorian Chant very beautifully, ” she says, “and last Christmas I really enjoyed Sting's album 
”
albums at this time of year. “ That sound creates such a beautiful holiday atmosphere. It’s great in the background for parties, and to listen to on your own.”
- one of my favourite Christmas songs to sing.
