09 - Eastwestern String Ensemble - The Absence of Time

Cover #22 from the series "Songs I Love" by Piers Faccini
Free download: http://www.unlock.fm/4g7

Given my love of her writing, I really should have already covered a Joni Mitchell song in the series by now. As a lyricist she's in a hallowed place all of her own and I can't think of anyone else who writes with such invention and grace. Little Green almost hurts to sing. It tells the story of the daughter Joni Mitchell gave up for adoption. One can only imagine the torment of a young mother having to give up her child and it's tempting too as the verses unfold to question her for doing so. Perhaps that's what makes it such a moving piece, taking us as listeners, deep into complex and ambiguous emotional waters where compassion, sorrow and forgiveness can mingle? I wonder how Joni's biological daughter feels about the song, would she have preferred it to have remain unwritten, unsung? It makes me think that writers are inevitably selfish beings as nothing is ever off limits for them. Shining a light on events that others might rather hide  is hard for the people that inspire the stories. But despite the sorrow Little Green calls up, I have no doubt the rest us are better off for hearing it.  The beautiful guitar part here was played by my friend the South African Guy Buttery. We met when I toured South Africa in 2008 with Nibs van der Spuy, I've collaborated on a few songs of Guy's over the years,  including one on his next album, I encourage you to discover his amazing music, he has a crowdfunding thing going on for his next album, I hear guitar buffs can even bid for one of his guitars! http://igg.me/at/guybuttery/x

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Franchement, vu comme j’adore ses compositions, il y a longtemps que j’aurais pu inclure une chanson de Joni Mitchell  dans la série!  Comme parolière, elle évolue dans une sorte de sanctuaire qui n’appartient qu’à elle – je cherche en vain quelqu’un qui écrive avec autant de grâce et de sincérité.  ‘Little Green’  est une chanson très sensible, poignante. Elle raconte l’histoire de la fille que Joni Mitchell a dû abandonner et confier à l’adoption. On peut imaginer les tourments d’une jeune mère acculée à laisser son enfant ; mais au fil de l’histoire, on a aussi envie de l’interpeller sur son geste… C’est sans doute ce qui rend ce récit si touchant, et qui plonge ceux qui écoutent dans les hauts fonds des émotions complexes et profondes, là où peuvent se fondre la compassion, la tristesse, et le pardon… Je me demande ce que ressent la fille biologique de Joni à l’écoute de cette chanson : aurait-elle préféré qu’elle demeure non-écrite,  jamais chantée ? Je réalise que les auteurs sont en fait des êtres assez égoïstes, qui ne se posent aucune limite. Porter au jour des événements que d’autres préfèreraient cacher n’est pas sans conséquences douloureuses pour les personnes qui inspirent ces récits. Malgré la tristesse que ‘Little Green’ éveille, je suis convaincu qu’une autre part de nous est heureuse de l’écouter.  
Sur cette reprise, la superbe partition de guitare est jouée par mon ami Sud-Africain Guy Buttery.  Nous nous sommes rencontrés lors de ma tournée là-bas en 2008 avec Nibs van der Spuy. Je vous invite à découvrir son incroyable univers musical. J’ai contribué à quelques chansons de Guy ces dernières années, y compris pour son prochain album. Il y a une campagne de financement participatif en cours sur ce projet, et je crois même qu’il y a des enchères possibles pour une de ses guitares. Avis aux amateurs ! http://igg.me/at/guybuttery/x
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Piers Faccini : http://www.facebook.com/PiersFacciniMusic
Beating Drum : http://www.beatingdrumrecords.com

FREE DOWNLOAD

Piers Faccini - Little Green [Joni Mitchell Cover](Songs I Love #22)

Read the poem itself and hear Nye read it here: https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/11/10/naomi-shihab-nye-kindness/

Excerpted from @onbeing: https://soundcloud.com/onbeing/naomi-shihab-nye-your-life-is-a-poem

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Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2018/04/23/ursula-k-le-guin-hymn-to-time-janna-levin/

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Astrophysicist Janna Levin reads "Hymn to Time" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/10/23/the-weighing-jane-hirshfield/

Recorded at @pioneerworks, October 29, 2018.

Astrophysicist Janna Levin Reads "The Weighing" by Jane Hirshfield

Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2020/03/15/today-another-universe-jane-hirshfield-ledger-jasmine

Kindly recorded by the poet for Brain Pickings.

Jane Hirshfield reads "Today, Another Universe"

Available to buy http://tinyurl.com/acousticbeats

The Just Music Café double album “Acoustic & Beats 01” extends over two separate CD albums the musical boundaries of acoustic guitar into symphonic composition, modern jazz, classically inspired mood music, folksy whimsy, textural ambience and muscular electronica. Both the Acoustic CD1 and the Beats CD2 are lovingly sequenced and mixed by DJ Ben Mynott to create an exquisite and total Just Music listening experience.

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Just Music artists all have exceptional artistic and musical ability. From the ambient mastery of Jon Hopkins (“musical genius” IDJ) through the chilled beats of Honeyroot, (“one of the best albums of the year.” Future Music), the composition of Future Loop Foundation ( “epic downbeat”” DJ Magazine)to the acoustic beauty of Dan Arborise , (“beguiling acoustic guitar” UNCUT) all of Just Music’s artist roster share a depth to their music - whether they draw on their background in classical or electronica or from their all encompassing roots level musical lifestyle.

This compilation succinctly expresses what Just Music stands for as a label, and how the artists form the label as a whole – the understated irony of the label’s name is the essence of its appeal…at the end of the day, it may just be music, but in this case with a rare power to quietly shake the soul.

Skechbook

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Echaskech - 7th Fall

Co-winner of Stormzy’s #Merky Books New Writer’s Prize, Hafsa Zayyan chats to Nihal about her debut novel ‘We Are All Birds Of Uganda’.

She chats to Nihal about completing the book in 6 months and why a sense of belonging and home is so important no matter where you live. Hafsa also bought along some objects which inspire her, including letters from her late Nigerian grandfather #PenguinPodcast

‘We Are All Birds Of Uganda' is available to buy as an audiobook now - https://apple.co/39MMI3S

WIN a year’s supply of audiobooks! To be in with a chance to win, tap the link and tell us what you think about the Penguin Podcast. https://bit.ly/PodcastSurvey2020

Astrophysicist Janna Levin Reads "The Weighing" by Jane Hirshfield

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