Music

Music speaks to us where words fall short. Music speaks to our deepest feelings. The mysterious language of music helps us endure and move forward. Music speaks to moments of loss, grief, joy, hope, love, beginnings and endings in a life.  In short, music heals. We all know that. We include here links to music John and his family listened to. Music that consoled and comforted during John’s journey to an unwanted place. 

 

Red River Valley

Woody Guthrie

 

John and Nancy literally danced in their kitchen listening to Country Music after they received the news of his remission.

Listen to it here

 

Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground

Willie Nelson

 

Willie Nelson speaks to our woundedness, to caregiving, to the experience of grace. John liked the rogue in Willie Nelson.

Listen to it here

 

Adagietto

from Gustav Mahler’s Fifth Symphony

 

Mahler was a favorite of John’s. He spoke with awe about a Mahler concert he attended given by the Philadelphia Orchestra before he was sick. He often listened to this very moving Adagio.

Listen to it here

 

Gymnopedie No.1

Erik Satie

 

Satie’s music here is haunting. It is pure reverie. We carry essential memories, heartfelt memories, inside this music.

Listen to it here

 

Emmanuelle, Hallelujah, Cinema Paradiso

Chris Botti

 

Chris Botti is a good fellow traveler. His music speaks to the heart and to what we all experience. Botti’s music is a favorite of John’s adult children. This music helped his children remember their father’s well lived life.

Listen to Emmanuelle here

Listen to Hallelujah here

Listen to Cinema Paradiso here

 

Adagio for Strings

Samuel Barber

 

This Adagio speaks to depth of grief and loss. We experience pure feeling here.

Listen to it here