Aloha! Thanks for visiting. ****
Exciting news -- I've recorded a demo of my new song "Soldier's Lullaby"! (You can listen to it here.) My nephew is serving his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq, which means that he will be separated from his wife and his baby daughter for the first year of the baby's life. I wrote this song to acknowledge the challenges faced by our deployed soldiers (both male and female) and their families. This duet version, sung by myself and Michael Mish, includes both the soldier's perspective and the perspective of a spouse or friend. I've also written a children's version and intend to make it available to children's choirs. If you have suggestions about how to get the song out there, please let me know. ****
My CD -- "I'm Here to Love" -- has started to get airplay! KXCI in Tucson has played "Jumpstart" and KLOI in Lopez Island, WA, has played "Dumpster-Divin' Mama." ****
I continue to give thanks for all the excellent musicians who played on the CD: David West, my producer extraordinaire, contributed bass, lead guitar, banjo, and mandolin, as well as harmony vocals on “Yes Is My Answer”; Kate Wallace, mentored me and provided insightful suggestions in addition to rhythm guitar and harmony vocals; George Friedenthal on all sorts of keyboards; Tom Ball on harmonica; Barbara Coventry on fiddle; Bob Nichols on drums; Lorenzo Martinez on all sorts of hand percussion; Dave Tolegian on clarinet; Kenny Edwards, cello; Douglas Clegg on accordion, plus harmony vocals on "Peace By Peace"; and Rebecca Wave and Mark Alciati, who each sang verses and harmony vocals on "Marisol." ****
Kate Wallace described my music as "folk-lectic." The songs on my CD include blues, ballads, R & B, rock, reggae, folk, waltzes, and a lullaby. Some are funny, some are sad, some poignant, some celebratory, and I hope all are inspiring in some way. Here's the backstory for each song: ****
I’m Here to Love ****
Why are we here, anyway? What are we meant to do about being born into a world that often seems challenging? The Course in Miracles says, “Teach only love, for that is what you are.” Looking at the songs I chose for this CD, “I’m here to love” seems to be a unifying theme. ****
She Rises ****
At the Gather the Women Congress in October of 2003, Patricia Smith Melton told the story of how she felt compelled to do something in response to the events of September 11, 2001. Her original plan was to invite into her living room women from around the world who were working for peace in their own countries and publish a book based on their discussions. However, the project instead turned into a film, which wasn’t anything she’d done before or intended to do. Before showing the film, entitled “Peace x Peace,” she read a 4-line poem that expressed her feelings about experiencing this calling. It went: “She rises to her full self/ to people's astonishment./ She's placed her future in her hands/ and is ready to drink from the cup of it.” I immediately heard a song there and asked permission to use the poem. With some changes to the wording, the poem became the seed for the chorus. The verses then took on an “everywoman” quality, telling the story of what it’s like to feel called to do something and how, upon accepting the call, the Universe seems to conspire to help. I certainly feel that way about recording my first CD! ****
Peace By Peace ****
When I first sang “She Rises” for Patricia Smith Melton, she commented that the staff of her organization, Peace X Peace, had just been talking about how they needed a song about the mission of their work. How do we bring about peace? After first creating peace in our own hearts, we then offer peace person by person. Peace X Peace adds the element of encouraging circles devoted to peace and connecting them with other circles. This song is meant to be used as the basis for a circle dance to bring us all together in celebration. ****
Dumpster-Divin’ Mama ****
In December of 1999, the phone rang and my sister, Gail Salinger Jacobson, announced: “Well, I guess I’m now a Dumpster-Divin’ Mama.” In the midst of my falling-off-the-chair laughing, I recognized the makings of a good song and, fortunately, had the presence of mind to pick up a pen and start taking notes. As the chorus notes, “Can’t believe the things [we] do, can’t believe what [we] go through, all in the name of motherly [and fatherly] love.” ****
Yes Is My Answer ****
This song grew out of my enchantment with the purple flowers of the jacaranda trees, which form a heavenly canopy over many of the streets of Santa Barbara every spring. As I played with the rhythm of the words “jacaranda canopy” and realized that they were in three-quarter time, I envisioned a couple waltzing. In the song, they waltz through their courtship, marriage, and anniversaries, reflecting upon the true meaning of their wedding vows. ****
Jumpstart ****
Pure fun and celebration. This idea for this song came while driving home from the Live Oak Music Festival, in which the headliner had been Oakland-based blues singer Brenda Boykin, accompanied by the 9-piece Johnny Nocturne orchestra. I was thinking about how the repertoire for male blues singers offers so many more “euphemism” songs and what fun it would be to write such a song for Ms. Boykin. “Jumpstart” then virtually started writing itself. But it’s also true on a literal level: “God bless [indeed] the man who knows how to use his tools!” ****
Marisol ****
On my birthday (Aug. 10) in 1985, I had the privilege of attending the birth of a baby who later became my goddaughter. Marisol Miller-Wave was born at home, in water, just as dawn was breaking. Wanting to make sure that the first sounds she would hear would be welcoming, I sang “Alleluia” (to the tune of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”) as Marisol emerged. Years later, I wrote about this amazing experience, using each verse to give a different perspective—first mine, as the godmother, then what I imagined the father’s might be, and finally what I imagined the mother’s might be. Marisol’s mother, Rebecca Wave, an accomplished singer and songwriter, sings her own verse in this recording. ****
Sarah Grace ****
The death of a newborn child is devastating. Is a mother still a mother, even if she has no child to raise? Of course she is. She always remembers. And, when the other twin survives, how do the parents and friends hold both emotions at the same time? What happens to these emotions as the years go by? My dear friends experienced this situation, and I wrote this song to honor them and their daughter . ****
Land of Surprise ****
I love the bedtime ritual of telling and reading stories and singing a child to sleep. Like many children, my godson, Stefan Menichella, didn’t really like going to bed. (I think he may have felt as though he was going to miss out on something exciting.) When he was two, I wrote this lullaby to help him imagine what he might look forward to in his dreams. ****
You Are the One ****
As we were hugging goodbye at the close of a Shared Heart week in Hawaii, Barry Vissell (who, along with his wife Joyce, led the retreat), sang in my ear, “If you weren’t here, we would miss you.” It got me thinking about how to express my awe and gratitude for how much difference each person makes. So I wrote this song for you (whoever you are). ****
Teach Me to Love Like Death ****
In 1977, I participated in a very profound retreat called “Experiencing Your Own Death and Resurrection,” led by Paul Rebillot. While relaxing at the “last supper” (following a day of intense processes about life review, unfinished business, and letting go), Paul commented, “You know, Death is the perfect lover—Death accepts you exactly as you are.” That phrase rolled around in my mind for several decades. Then, in 2003, on a listserve discussion about favorite names for the Divine, someone contributed “the One Who Breathes Us.” The two phrases came together, along with a melody for a chorus, and each day, for four days in a row, I was “given” a verse for the song. When the song was finished, it seemed to take on a life of its own, giving me “assignments” about where it wanted to be sung. I further understood that, unless I followed through on these assignments, I wouldn’t be given any more songs. Needless to say, I have carried out these instructions. On a visit to Michigan in October of 2006, I sang the song for my mother, Eloise Salinger, which gave us an opening to share our thoughts about the afterlife. It turned out to be the last time we saw each other. I sang “Teach Me to Love Like Death” again at her memorial service in June of 2007. ****
Mother/Daughter Dance ****
We all want to be appreciated for who we are, even if that turns out to be different from the expectations of the people around us. I wrote this song after my mom went into a medical crisis in June of 1999 and I flew from California to Michigan, not knowing what kind of situation I would find or how long I would need to stay. My mom and I didn’t have the kind of immediate, heartfelt breakthrough in our communications that one finds in novels or movies. But we did get to have another eight years in which to practice learning how to express our love to each other. And for that I am very grateful. I dedicate this album to her. ****
The graphics -- a combined effort by Anne Gabeler's photography, the artwork of Kym Nicolas, and the graphics skills of Teresa Lynne -- are gorgeous! ****
If you are interested in purchasing a CD, please contact me at: P. O. Box 2042, Santa Barbara, CA 93120. My phone number is 805 898-1603. My email address is MN8JOY (emanate Joy) at Yahoo dot com. ****
You can also see a video of my performance of "Disclaimers" at the 2007 WinterSongs West coffehouse at Zaca Lake. Just click on the "View Videos" link under my photo. ****
Spread the love and give your gifts to the world! ****
Penelope Salinger
Hello Penelope~ Love and Miss you! Check out some of the new photos on my site...of adventures in 2008 in Colorado. My album should be finished by May,!
Hey Penelope, love the orb and the boa in your pic! your tunes are fun, I especially like the jazzy ones. sing opera for us at the pool again soon! love, Sarah
Penelope!! It was a joy to meet you, and hang out, talk and play music, and just enjoy :-) Your CD got us home to L.A. Especially liked "Yes Is My Answer." Looking forward to seeing you again, this time up Santa Barbara way! - Sabrina & Craig
