Music Rising at Sundance Film Festival 2009

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Music Rising is at Sundance Film Festival


Hi All, its been way too long since we posted to the blog here for Music Rising. We wanted to let you know that Music Rising is front and center at the Gibson Lodge this year at the Sundance Film Festival. Sting, Billy Morrison and The Doors stopped by today to sign special edition Music Rising Epiphone guitars which will be auctioned for Music Rising and the proceeds will continue to go straight to the Gulf Coast Region in the campaigns promise to help everyone who needs our aid. Three years after the hurricane disasters we know that there is still work to be done and we are committed to standing the test of time. Take a look at some of the press coming out this week at Sundance and you will see some very special photos and stories on how Music Rising is present there amidst the many musicians and actors who are willing to give us their support. In this new year we are thankful for our many friends who visit this blog and who continue to write and tell us their own personal stories. Make sure to visit often as we will be announcing more news this year. All the best and blessings in 2009!

Labels: Music Rising at Sundance Film Festival 2009

posted by Musicrising at 6:16 PM

Praise song for the day - Elizabeth Alexander

This inaugural poem is more than appropriate here in Reach Out for New Orleans. It takes us to a place of greater unity and compassion, and just one step closer to the solution of continued Post-Katrina struggles. You can insert images of individuals and families effected by the hurricane, as well as those using their hands, hearts, and hopes to a livable return. Please read it aloud thoughtfully and join me in the transformation.



Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."

We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.