jennyarntzen.music

  Last night I attended the Vancouver Folk Song Society bi-weekly gathering at the Quaker Meetinghouse here in Vancouver.  The organizers had put together a program in honour of International Women's Day coming up on Saturday, March 8. We shared songs, stories and poetry by, about, and for women. There were women of all ages sharing their musical offerings. One the signature moments for me was the third half of the evening's program. A group of women, aged across decades, had put together a program of songs. It was transforming to see these elder women helping the younger women to get up in front of a room full of people to sing the songs they had prepared. To lead us in learning new songs and singing along on the chorus. It struck me how important our elderly women are to helping our society transform and grow. How they can model poise, dignity, self-respect, courage, confidence, collegiality to foster these qualities in our next generations of women. Women will lead us out o...

  For a few hours on a Sunday afternoon we gathered to make music and make sense of what is important in our lives. This was our sixth Neighbourhood Folk on the first Sunday of the month. I never know how many people are actually going to attend. Sunday morning there is often a flurry of texts letting me know someone needs to stay home, or someone else is bringing a visiting relative or friend. That is part of the fun. Each gathering is uniquely inspired by the people who choose to attend. This method of programming is what George Lakey called, 'emergent design'. The content of our creations is informed by the contributions from the group. In the days leading up to the first Sunday of the month I am thinking about getting the house ready, the menu for dinner after music-making, and remembering to send out invitations to friends, neighbours and family. I keep trying different arrangements for seating, to get the most people comfortably seated as possible.  For our March 2 gathe...