Book Review: “A Round of Rounds for the 52 Weeks of the Year” by Brien Masters

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Book Review: “A Round of Rounds for the 52 Weeks of the Year” by Brien Masters

Reviewed by Debbie Barford, Chicago, IL

By itself, the title of this gathering of musical offerings portends already the excitement of moving from one to the many. A ‘round’ in music, also referred to as a ‘perpetual canon’ is a single line of music written in such a way that it can be sung with different voices coming in at separate times, layering the sound (and harmony) from one to a second and third, and in the case of this collection, as many as five, or more. Imagine that Brien Masters then, after living many years with Rudolf Steiner’s 52 Soul Calendar verses, which follow the soul’s changing relation with the moods of the earth and nature through the round of the year, was inspired to compose these little rounds and accompanying verses, out of his experience of Nature in his own country.

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A message from Kerry Lee's children

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Kerry 2004.jpg

Dear Lyre Association and colleagues of our loving mother,

We would like to ask whether there are any instruments belonging to Kerry out there; likewise, whether Kerry had borrowed any instruments from someone who hasn’t gotten them returned. If so, please email lyrists@gmail.com.

We would also like to use this opportunity to extend our deepest gratitude for the help, support, and love shown to our mother over the past six months during her illness. It was a wonderful display of compassion and solidarity. Thank you.

Best wishes,

Cameron, Heather, and Jennifer

Note from LANA:  Coming soon we will be offering a page in our web store containing music books from Kerry Lee's personal collection.  All proceeds will go to Kerry's family.

Experience after Dying

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(from Herbert Hahn: Rudolf Steiner)

Now Rudolf Steiner spoke about death, of the experience which the soul has immediately after the moment of leaving this earthly life. He reminded us how the soul experiences its whole earthly life like an immense panorama.

But, Rudolf Steiner continued, the most grandiose of all is the fact that this whole picture-world is at the same time a sounding, musical experience. And like a gigantic symphony, the whole cosmos is floating toward these 'sounding' pictures and absorbs them. In the midst of this symphony, the listening soul suddenly hears one sound—one tone that rises above all other sounds.

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Lyre Mantle II

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Lyre Mantle II

It has been five months since we began to weave the Lyre Mantle. Surely it has become the most beautiful and stunning fabric, woven from the sounds of many different lyres, varying in size, range, structure, wood, and being played by people from many different cultural backgrounds.

In March, I imagined that we would work on this mantle for a few months. Now, however, it seems that the world needs it as much, if not more, than ever before.

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Calling for Contributions for Lyre Notes Fall 2020!

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Calling for Contributions for Lyre Notes Fall 2020!

We are looking for short articles - or a paragraph with pictures - about World Lyre Day 2020 and more:

We welcome news, stories, photos, and announcements of lyre happenings in your region.... also reviews about any item in our store and ads from our members. Deadline is September 20th. We look forward to hearing from you!! Contributions may be sent to wendypolich@hotmail.com.

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Book Review: “Iberian Retreat” by John Billing

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Book Review: “Iberian Retreat” by John Billing

[Reviewed by Thomas Pedroli, Germany/China ]

John Billing is one of those rare lyre players who dedicates his professional life to this beautiful instrument by playing music and giving workshops in many countries around the world, and by writing music that touches the heart. Returning from a long Winter retreat in San Jose, Portugal, John brought back a wonderful booklet with newly composed lyre music: Iberian Retreat.

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Book Review: Music for Alto and Soprano Lyre by Murray Wright

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Book Review: Music for Alto and Soprano Lyre by Murray Wright

[Reviewed by Sheila Johns, Cuenca, Ecuador]

I am delighted to enthusiastically recommend this beautiful small collection of lyre music composed by Murray Wright, lyre builder, composer, and player from Melbourne, Australia.

Music for Alto and Soprano Lyre is a volume of eight early intermediate lyre pieces. Although only the first two pieces are written on a single staff, it is actually possible to play all of the first four pieces on one lyre.

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It’s Retreat Time for the Board of the Lyre Association of North America!

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The LANA Board will be holding its Annual Directors’ Meeting on August 26-27. Our 2020 lyrists’ “gathering” was our well-attended Zoom call on International Lyre Day. Next year, however, we hope to all be together again at the International Lyre Conference in the Czech Republic. There, members and friends of LANA will gather for an in-person Annual Members’ Meeting to reflect on the past year as an organization, to collect thoughts and ideas from everyone, and to share with one another our regional lyre work.

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Book Review: “SAFE FROM THE STORM” for Lyres and Harps by John Billing

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Book Review: “SAFE FROM THE STORM” for Lyres and Harps by John Billing

[Reviewed by John Clark, Kilkenny, Ireland]

Did John Billing have a premonition of the great Covid storm all humanity would face in the months following its composition? Certainly, it was a great help to me, playing this piece during this fearful and alarming period, and I began to notice that its gentle syncopations can have a steadying and soothing effect, though I would have expected the opposite to be the case.

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Book Review: “FROM IRELAND WITH LOVE” for Lyres and Harps, by John Billing

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Book Review: “FROM IRELAND WITH LOVE” for Lyres and Harps, by John Billing

[Reviewed by John Clark, Kilkenny, Ireland]

Here in Ireland we talk a lot about “the living tradition”. We mean by this term that there is not only the performance of traditional and well known music from the folk tradition in nooks and crannies all over the country, but also the creation of new repertoire, sometimes with a quite modern twist, continually finding its way into the canon of Irish Traditional Music.

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Lyre Day Greetings from around the World

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We are so pleased to see all the appreciative and supportive comments from various parts of the world! Amazingly, it is clear that we ended up touching and involving more people many times over than if we had held our original conference in person. Under normal circumstances, this would never be a true substitute, of course, but it has nevertheless proven to be a very satisfying and rewarding alternative in this particular year. Bravo and gratitude to all!

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