Ivan M. Granger September 14th, 2009
I was introduced to this video by Johnny Mg Kwlmann, a delightful musical rendition of the recently featured poem by Bulleh Shah:
Ivan M. Granger September 7th, 2009
Something to get your toes tapping today. Give a listen!
Ivan M. Granger August 24th, 2009
Secret Language
by Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi
English version by Coleman Barks
Every part of you has a secret language
your hands and your feet
say what you’ve done
and every need brings in what’s needed
pain bears its cure like a child
— from Secret Language: Rumi A Celebration in Song (Music CD), by Ramananda
/ Photo by Per Ola Wiberg (Powi) /
I’m back. I want to start by thanking everyone who sent good wishes for my mother’s health.
The past couple of weeks have been among the most difficult of my life. Because of my mother’s brain cancer, she has been losing functionality and making erratic, potentially dangerous decisions, so we came to the difficult decision that we needed to check her into a nursing home. Having to face that choice was in itself wrenching since my mother has always been a very independent woman. Then I had to rush to establish power of attorney and take over her finances, track down all her bills, go through her paperwork, all while dealing with insurance and medical bureaucracy and, of course, visiting with my mother, comforting her, helping her to get settled in to her new environment. Then, in the midst of that, my uncle, a sweet, quiet man, died of a heart attack! The whole period felt like an intense meditation on aging, loss, and death — with way too much bureaucracy thrown in. (Some day America will get a sane healthcare system.)
But, through all of that, I was also blessed to have some profoundly moving conversations with my mother. Even amidst her surface mental confusion, she still speaks with an inner wisdom about what she is going through as she knowingly approaches her own death.
I may write more about this in the future, but it is all still a little too raw in my thoughts right now. And I still have paperwork to fill out. 
Here is what I posted on Facebook recently:
Went to help my dying mother:
insurance,
forms, frantic phone calls.
And sweet, meandering talks
on how to wrap up a life.
Back home, the last of summer’s roses.
–
I’ve been listening again to Ramananda’s CD “Secret Language: Rumi - A Celebration in Song.” Lines of Rumi poetry set to liquid grooves, with tabla, sometimes a breathy flute. When I first listened to the CD a few years ago, I didn’t at first “get” it. It was one of those CDs I had to listen to two or three times before I found myself saying, Wow, this is wonderful! Strangely, most of my favorite CDs are that way…
…every need brings in what’s needed
pain bears its cure like a child
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Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi
Afghanistan & Turkey (1207 - 1273) Timeline |
Ivan M. Granger July 31st, 2009
One love, one heart,
Let’s get together
and feel alright…
Ivan M. Granger July 20th, 2009
If you receive the Poetry Chaikhana via email, you may have noticed that the links to listen to the music selections stopped working last week. CDBaby changed the format of their web site, and the “Listen” links in the Poetry Chaikhana emails no longer work. As a temporary solution, I have changed the links to take you directly to the CDBaby web page for the CD, and there you can click to listen to individual music samples. But I’m not satisfied with that as a permanent solution — too many steps.
When I have the time, I may have to completely redesign how the music selections work in conjunction with the Poetry Chaikhana. And it’s possible I’ll need to change to using Amazon.com for the music selections, instead. I like supporting the smaller company and the independent musicians and artists CDBaby represents, but it looks like I’ll be able to get the whole process integrated into the emails more easily with Amazon.
Ivan M. Granger June 26th, 2009
In the realm of the passing away
by Stephen Levine
This is the realm of the passing away. All that
exists does not for long.
Whatever comes into this world never stops sliding
toward the edge of eternity.
Form arises from formlessness and passes back,
arising and dissolving in a few dance steps between
creation and destruction.
We are born passing away.
Seedlings and deadfall all face forward.
Earthworms eat what remains.
We sing not for that which dies but for that which
never dies.
— from Breaking the Drought: Visions of Grace, by Stephen Levine
/ Photo by tipoyock /
Whatever comes into this world never stops sliding
toward the edge of eternity.
Yesterday was a strange day of famous deaths. I woke up and found out that Ed McMahon had died the day before. Then I heard about Farrah Fawcett’s passing. In the afternoon, checking out friends’ comments on Facebook, I started to see messages about “Michael” and “Thriller.” Were they saying that Michael Jackson had died too? A few searches on the Internet, and I found out that, yes, Michael Jackson had unexpectedly died. To add to that, I then was told that the actor Jeff Goldblum had died by falling off a cliff, only to find out later that he had been injured but did not die.
Now, I can’t say I felt a really strong personal connection to these famous figures, but by the end of the day I could feel the world’s shock, especially over Michael Jackson’s death. It would seem strange not to mention such a significant death in today’s email.
In his personal life, Michael Jackson seemed eccentric and haunted, and accusations raised troubling questions. But frankly I don’t know enough about the private man to comment or pass judgment. His genius as a singer and dancer can’t be denied, however. I remember his performance at the Motown awards, singing “Billie Jean” wearing a single sequined glove, and sliding a smooth moonwalk across the stage. A revolution exploded in music and dance at that very moment, the repercussions of which are still reverberating through pop culture today.
Michael Jackson is one of those rare figures, like Bob Marley, Elvis, John Lennon, a defining figure for the entire world. There is a reason that we call the ultra famous “stars.” They are like the planets in astrology; they embody for the world a certain archetypal energy. But that makes normal human relationships next to impossible for these people. We relate to the archetypal aura and not the person. Culture bearers are adored by millions and intimate with none.
This archetypal role they play is also why their deaths are so traumatic to the world. Archetypes are, by their nature, eternal energies of the soul. So when a person embodying a particular archetype dies, the world feels a rupture, the planetary psyche feels disoriented and fragmented. How can that which we instinctively know to be eternal disappear from our midst? But what really happens is that the archetypal energy is released, returned back to each of us. Having seen it enacted outside of ourselves, we are again reminded to look within ourselves for those same qualities.
So, today, sing! Hooo! And dance! Maybe try a moonwalk in socks across the kitchen floor…
Ivan M. Granger June 22nd, 2009
The great tabla player, Zakir Hussain, accompanied by Japanese taiko drums. Hope you enjoy.
Ivan M. Granger April 11th, 2009
Stand By Me from David Johnson on Vimeo.
I came across this video just this morning, and trust me, you’ll be moved by this patchwork performance of “Stand by Me” with singers and street musicians from all over the world.
A good reminder too to keep a little extra change in your pocket for the next time you pass by a musician busking on the street corner. They fill our world with music.
Ivan M. Granger January 27th, 2009
“Little Wing” was always my favorite Jimi Hendrix song. There’s something so dream-like to its words and soft groove, but with the quiet growl of Hendrix’s guitar that threatens but never quite roars.
Well, this is not your typical version of Little Wing. Jason Arimoto (http://www.myspace.com/jasonarimoto) gives us a quiet, almost meditative version, but still just that hint of something bigger rumbling beneath the surface — and only playing ukulele. Give it a listen. You’ll be surprised. I guarantee a smile on your face.
Well she’s walking through the clouds
With a circus mind thats running round
Butterflies and zebras
And moonbeams and fairy tales
That’s all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind.
When I’m sad, she comes to me
With a thousand smiles, she gives to me free
It’s alright she says it’s alright
Take anything you want from me, anything
Anything.
Fly on little wing,
Yeah yeah, yeah, little wing
Ivan M. Granger January 16th, 2009
I moved to Hawaii a few years after Israel Kamakawiwo’oli — IZ — died, and he was still greatly mourned. Bruddah IZ was a big man with a big heart, and a soaring falsetto voice that could bring tears unexpectedly to your eyes. He was in many ways the voice of the Hawaiian nation. His songs expressed his love for the aina, the beautiful land of Hawaii, and he gave voice to the sorrows of the Hawaiian people and their delightful playfulness.
When I think of my years living among the islands, I hear IZ’s songs playing among my memories of water, sky, and green…
Mahalo nui loa, Bruddah IZ!
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Facing Future (CD) by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole |
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Alone in IZ World (CD) by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole |
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Wonderful World (CD) by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole |
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E Ala E (CD) by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole |
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IZ in Concert: The Man and His Music (CD) by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole |
Ivan M. Granger December 17th, 2008
A member of the Poetry Chaikhana forwarded this to me in response to Mary Oliver’s poem, The Lark. Worth sharing with everyone…
Ivan M. Granger November 11th, 2008
Pata Pata
I just heard that Miram Makeba “Mama Africa” died a couple of days ago. Her music, emerging out of South Africa, touched the world…
—
Amampondo
—
A brief summary of Miram Makeba’s life, art, and work for social and racial justice…
Miram Makeba is one of those transformative artists whose vision transcends the world of her art and career. Through her music and her personality, we encounter the expansive possibilities of the human heart when it is fully applied to the struggling world.
Do yourself a favor and track down more of her music.
Ivan M. Granger July 2nd, 2008
The animation hearkens back to the work of Peter Maxx in the 60s and 70s, a la Yellow Submarine. But this comes with a sleepy, casual groove. Gives a sense of the easy, overlooked magic of the world.
Break out the flared pants and enjoy!
Ivan M. Granger May 22nd, 2008
A lovely video montage set to music. Produced by The Green Children Foundation which supports microcredit, education, and healthcare.
Ivan M. Granger April 30th, 2008
This lovely video was recommended by Cinza. Moving meditative kirtan in the Sikh tradition by Snatam Kaur Khalsa. From a London performance. A nice pairing with Guru Nanak’s poem…
Ivan M. Granger April 16th, 2008
Manose is a world-famous flute player from Nepal. Soaring notes carry you to a land of flowering mountain fields and clear skies.
This video is a nice sampler of his music and bright personality.
Manose
Suskera Solo Bamboo Flute
“Offering three mesmerizing pieces for solo bamboo flute, each based on a different Indian scale, this leads the listener deeper into a mood of serenity.”
Ivan M. Granger March 12th, 2008
Lisa Sangita Moskow and Mihai Manoliu
Yakshi
“Sarod and guitar music that is a sensuous blend of Eastern lyricism, unique rhythms, and meditational celebration…”
The music on this CD is lyrical, introverted, meditative. Mixes eastern sounds with something that almost feels like the lead-up to an American folk song. Take a listen.
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