singing

TheBirdSings

I wrote this song several years ago after participating in a workscholar group at Esalen Institute led by David Schiffman. He wrote this beautiful poem for our group and I put it to music.

In desperation we found freedom,
In freedom we found love,
In love we found devotion,
In devotion spirit found us.

This is day 96 of the 2014 Song-a-Day Challenge with Lisa Goettel.

This is song is subject to a creative commons license. Feel free to sing and share with accreditation and subject to copyright when sung for profit.

For more information about the 2014 Song-a-Day Challenge visit: thebirdsings.com/songaday

May our singing heal, inspire and connect us all.

Day 96: Spirit Found Us

Upon my first month spent as a work scholar at Esalen Institute in 2005, our gifted group leader David Schiffman was inspired to write and share this short poem with us. A few years later I put it to music and began sharing it in groups. I shared the song with David before he passed away and sang it at his memorial. Since that time this song has been traveling far and wide, a healing song of potent simplicity. ~Lisa

This song is versitile - hymn-like, march-like and easy to learn.

Copyright Lisa G. Littlebird. Vocals on the track by Lisa G. Littlebird.

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/spirit-found-us

Spirit Found Us

A spiritual for daily living, written for Wholehearted Chorus by LaVerne McLeod. The song features a lead soloist and the chorus has an easy hook that could be taught and sung on its own for easy learning.
Original song by LaVerne McLeod, 2016.

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/you-gotta-know

You Gotta Know What You Want by LaVerne McLeod

Original song lyrics by Coco Love Alcorn, music by Coco, Andy Sheppard, Alan Mackie and Drew McIvor. Arranged for Wholehearted Chorus in a gospel style in 4-part harmony by Lisa G. Littlebird, inspired by Karla Mundy's arrangement for her Rhythm 'n' Roots chorus. A simplified version of the chorus can be taught quickly for song circles.

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/good-news

Good News by Coco Love Alcorn

An upbeat, infectious layer song from song leader Laurence Cole. This song is a part of his album of the same name, available for purchase at http://www.laurencecole.com/buy/

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/this-fire

This Fire by Laurence Cole

This chant by Wholehearted Chorus member Lily Buzzard is a potent chant of grief, written in response to the loss of a loved one. Walbahaar is the Somali word for grief. The recordings here don't include the full measure of percussive elements that will be employed by the chorus members when singing this in concert, using hands and feet to simulate sounds of rain.

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/walbahaar

Walbahaar by Lily Buzzard

Another amazing layer song from Laurence Cole. http://laurencecole.com

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/go-down-deep

Go Down Deep by Laurence Cole

Lisa G is a songcatcher. She holds a vision for a world where singing is once again an integral part of daily community life. May we use this most ancient technology to meet life's challenges and celebrations, open our hearts, and uplift our lives.

Lisa G. Littlebird is the director of the 250-member Wholehearted Chorus in Carmel and San Diego, CA. She has been on the faculty as a community singing facilitator at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA since 2006. She is a singer, composer and teacher with more than 30 years of musical experience, facilitating community singing as medicine for our world.  Learn more at http://thebirdsings.com.