Dim Lamp/קנה רצוץ לא ישבור

Mary Travers dies at 72

The famous American folk singer and member of the trio Peter, Paul and Mary died of cancer on September 16 at the age of 72. For many of us baby boomers, Peter Yarrow, (Noel) Paul Stookey and Mary Travers were our heroes, singing songs with them like Puff the magic dragon, If I had a hammer, We shall overcome, and so on. The trio remained active over the decades, not only singing, but in advocating for human rights and peace around the globe. You can read more here and the trio’s web site here. Us baby boomers will miss Mary, blessed be her memory.

Last night—Friday, September 12—our Medicine Hat Folk Music Club kicked off this season’s Songwriter Night. What a lovely evening it was! Our small city has a lively folk music scene with much talent, including up and rising artists who have recently recorded CDs of their original compositions and are even receiving international acclaim. I thoroughly enjoyed last night’s gathering—kudos to our Medicine Hat Folk Music Club members! You can visit the club’s website here to check out the up and coming concerts as well as the annual January Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival artists. You can also visit their myspace site and have a glimpse of the talent showcased at the Songwriter Night here. 

Last night, April 26, 2008, my wife and I attended a Bill Bourne and Eivør Pálsdóttir concert organised by the Medicine Hat Folk Music Club. Bill and Eivør played to a sold out audience, and now I know the reason why. This was an absolutely fabulous concert! Eivør is a native of the Faroe Islands, and Bill was raised right here in Alberta around the Red Deer area. Eivør’s voice is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever heard—if this is what the music of heaven sounds like, then what a treasure is in store for us! Her songs gave me goose bumps all over my body, something that I haven’t experienced in quite a while. Bill too is a fine musician, I particularly like the gentle harmonizing and signature rhythms so exuberantly summoned from his guitar. Most of all though, I deeply appreciated Christian motifs in a few of the lyrics. Blessed are the music-makers, for the realm of God is in their midst. I highly recommend all readers of this blog to attend a Bill Bourne and Eivør Pálsdóttir concert if they ever come your way. In the meantime, please visit their websites: Bill Bourne here and Eivør Pálsdóttir here.