Hello everyone! The other day the Daily Progress did a story about the release of my songbook Seven Songs of Solace. It is a fundraiser to benefit Doctors without Borders and Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss (AAMHL) as well as me (having lost most of my income due to the pandemic crises).
You can purchase a copy of my songbook at this link:
Music has been the most constant thing in my life. We are living in very uncertain times and so many changes go on each day. Music has always been my best friend I turn to when I am at a loss for words.
Four years ago in late May, my dear mother passed away. It was probably the saddest time of my life. During this time of grieving, I began composing music on my guitar to expressed my feelings. The video below is the first of several pieces that came to me. I call it "Acceptance (for mom)" because I was aware that I went through many stages of grief. I remember some years ago there was a theory of these 5 phases of grief: "Denial, Anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance." I got the idea to compose songs in each of these phases. Below are Acceptance and Denial - in that order :)
When I thought of what denial would sound like, how I experience that is in a dance. Like a jig. At times when I am denying something, I am not feeling sadness or grief. In fact, I could feel something akin to happiness, even though it is denial. Are you following me? :)
So below you will hear two of the phases of grief of my mom's death. I found that composing music was what really helped me to come to accept her death and move forward.
"Acceptance (for mom)" is also available in sheet music for standard/tab notation in my new booklet (pdf) Seven Songs of Solace. It can be purchased by a donation (any amount) and partial proceeds will go to Doctors without Borders:
