Thursday 26 March 2009

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

MUSICIAN’S INCLINATION

Halifax, Nova Scotia

I explored the city a bit walking North on Robie St. to St. Mary’s University, then a divergence on Spring Garden St. and back to Quinpool. Not a serious distance. A limp can’t be helped from time to time. It’s subtle, but it’s there (I’m diagnosed with osteomyelitis and a doctor friend recently said it could take months before cured).

At bus stands a big ad promoted “Il Divo”, the popular all male operetta group of singers, coming to town. At the bulletin board of St. Mary’s, renowned Cape Breton songstress, Rita McNeil, will perform a concert. Less known, but promising are the up and coming Strange Boys, a bluegrass band doing a circuit in Nova Scotia who also share an interest in spirituality. Dan, Jeff and Adam, members of the band, came to see us in the ashrama loft on Quinpool for a cooking demonstration, followed by eating participation, philosophical inquiry and last but not least, breaking into devotional instruments along with chanting. Dan took a crack at harmonium; Jeff at kartals (hand cymbals) and Adam, at mrdanga drum.

They all did marvelous at their newly-found music.

I was moved by their philosophical questions. Artists have always felt at home with spiritualism. It is not a chore for them to penetrate this field. Consider some of the world’s best music compositions. They have been assembled and performed by spiritually empowered persons.

I am not sure where the Strange Boys will end up musically, but they certainly feel comfortable with Krishna.

6 Km

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