A piece of music to celebrate the sustaining life of women ...

 

Here's a photo of a cherry tree in my neighbourhood last year, in full bloom, scenting the air, filling our senses with wonder and delight. I had to stop to take her picture today. 

On this (almost) May Day, I will take a moment to celebrate all the women I know who change the landscape they inhabit, just as a beautiful tree changes the landscape around her.

I have a piece of music for that! Please enjoy Rivkah's Dance on YouTube, or on Bandcamp (please leave a small donation if you can). You can also hear it on Spotify, iTunes and other streaming sites.

Rivkah's Dance is from my latest guitar album   Morning Fox (2023) with editor and musical collaborator Allister Thompson. 

I hope you'll give a listen, and think about the women in your life who have changed and sustained you. 

 Liner notes for Rivkah's Dance: 

"Rivkah's Dance is from my latest guitar album "Morning Fox,"  and is the closest I've come to writing a symphony for guitar. One of my longest pieces, it is meant to imitate the life of a woman as she grows, just as a tree grows. In four movements, the music begins softly, then builds as she grows tall and strong and vibrant, sustaining life, sheltering, and withstanding seasons, storm and wind. May she live long, and change the landscape she inhabits."

Songs from Birch Island is streaming on Spotify!

 

It's a first for me, but I'm really pleased to say that all of my instrumental guitar music from the past 7 years is now streaming on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Apple Music and probably wherever you listen to music.

Here's the Spotify link: Songs from Birch Island

Songs from Birch Island is a compilation of all three of my guitar albums, a total of 26 short, jubilant pieces, in collaboration with Allister Thompson, who is also the editor of my books. 

Or find  Songs from Birch Island on YouTube.

My favourite tune from Songs from Birch Island is probably All the Stars (at least today). But that could change! I hope you'll listen and choose your own favourite. The songs are inspired by a wide variety of guitarists from John Fahey to Bruce Cockburn, from Django Reinhardt to Adrianne Lenker. The beautiful compilation cover art is Birches in Autumn, paper collage by Baye Hunter. Check out more of her lovely art at bayehunter.com.

And someone has asked me if there is a particular Birch Island? There is (mine is in Algonquin Park), but I think most Canadians have a favourite lake with a Birch Island on it, so this music tries to capture that Canadian ubiquity: hearing music through the birch trees wherever you may be.

I'm delighted to bring you this compilation, especially right now during the pandemic. Creating is a great release, artists have it luckiest at this time, I think. I hope you'll listen to Songs from Birch Island, and gain a little calm in the storm.

Update! You can also listen to Songs from Birch Island on CD!  If you'd like a CD, contact me via email (contact info in the sidebar at right). 

More about my music on this blog.

Songs from Birch Island is a compilation of
the following albums and one single:

The Crow's Nest, April/2021
10 songs, click link to listen on Bandcamp

Cover art by Shawna Daigle

Birches, October, 2017
8 songs, including me singing on Moonlight
Click to listen on Bandcamp

Cover art, Birches in Summer, by Baye Hunter

Fifth Season, October 2015
7 songs on Bandcamp

Cover art, Lake Nipissing, photo by Allister Thompson

The Gargoyle Shuffle, April, 2019
Single on Bandcamp

Cover art by Emma Dolan