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Stories about Bread & Roses shows that convey the essence, or heart, of our program are called "essence stories." They illustrate the magic that happens between performer and audience at a Bread & Roses show. These stories are written by our staff, facility staff, volunteers and audience members. They are a treasured record of the impact of our work.
To the Song-keepers: Blue |
| at Burt Children's Center, San Francisco and Marian Care Center, Burlingame |
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I recently had the pleasure of producing several moving and poignant Bread & Roses programs with Native American flute player Blue, who is half Apache and was raised by his grandparents, who were "song-keepers" of his tribe. At the Burt Children's Center, a home for abused children in San Francisco, Blue created a sacred ceremony for the children with his music and helped them take part in a Native American ritual. He had the children sound his hand-made drum of cowhide while he played the flute and all felt connected in a common heartbeat. It was a miracle to witness these children calmly listening to his music and taking in the reverence with which he played.
On our way down to the next show at the Marian Care Center in Burlingame, a convalescent facility of retired nuns, I felt privileged to hear more of the philosophy behind his music. He believes that man is not meant to live so removed from other people and from nature. The sharing of his Native American music with others as a song-keeper is his way of giving back and creating community in a more immediate sense.
The first flute Blue played was Magic Raven, guardian of the dream gate, the guide he asks for safety and protection while in the dream world. He offered his sacred flute playing in prayer that he may love and bless others.
When he picked up his loon flute, he spoke of his great-grandfather having a painting of a loon on his teepee. The loon is his family totem. This animal spirit guide also teaches a lesson. When loons migrate, if one is injured or ill and has to land, two other birds will land with the unfortunate one. If this bird is lucky enough to have a mate, the mate will stay with the partner till it recovers or dies. The lesson is that we need to take care of each other in a similar fashion.
The flute is one of the most ancient of instruments - after the drum or the rattle. Listening to the beautiful sound of his flute playing, one imagines the echo of the music of an ancient song-keeper playing in a canyon. He said his music is in his heart and not written out. It is the sound of our hearts together.
After his performance, one of the sisters said to him in gratitude "I just took so much into my heart. I am an old lady but I can always learn new things." The music of the song-keeper continues to guide the connection of our hearts.
By
Marian P. Hubler
Producer and Public Relations Liaison
Bread & Roses
Archived Essence Stories
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