Welcome To The Creative Act

A pro-musician making sense of the creative process within the context of his life experience.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Badger Warrior - Ronald Roybal - Native American Flute Music

'Badger Warrior' is a flute and hand drum song that I first released on 'Eagle's Journey Into Dawn'. Not many flutists play flute and hand drum songs. I am very fortunate to have been exposed to so many good drummers and singers over the years who helped me to learn how to bring good songs into the world! RR

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Kenny G Circular On Practice And The Music Biz

Kenny G talks about practice and the music business. A professional musician has to love to practice. I know I do! It's one of my favorite things to do and I look forward to it. I have several practice sessions a day of at least an hour in length. I practice and study at least three to four hours a day. My time is split between the flute and the guitar as well as piano and traditional style singing. Now you know where the time goes! RR

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Fantasy General "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence."

The name of the song is "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." It's an ancient (400 A.D.) Christian hymn arranged for English to a medieval French tune. I've been studying a guitar arrangement for this song this morning. I think I will really enjoy learning this one. I happened on this recording from an old video game called 'Fantasy General'. I actually enjoy some video game soundtracks! RR

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

The Blood Cries Out DVD


This playlist contains all ten music videos from the film "The Blood Cries Out" produced by Ronald Roybal, Native American Flutist and Guitarist. "The Blood Cries Out" was nominated Best Long Form Music Video of the Year in the 2007 Native American Music Awards and was a featured selection of the 2007 Santa Fe Film Festival. Ronald is a six-time Native American Music Award Nominee and is a two-time New Mexico Music Industry Award Winner. A high resolution DVD of this film can be ordered at www.ronaldroybal.com.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

A Fistful of Dollars(1964) - Suite [PART 1]

Ennio Morricone remains one of the most inventive of movie soundtrack composers. In this selection from 'A Fistful of Dollars', he perfectly matches the visual imagery of the movie. The dusty land and the desperate characters come alive when I hear this soundtrack. I also like the classy use of the electric guitar!

Friday, October 9, 2009

Eagle Dance Song - Ronald Roybal - Native American Flute Music

Eagle flies higher than any other other creature so that he can enter the Spirit World while still alive. Eagle does this to deliver all the prayers of all the creatures. As he flies higher and higher, his wings are burned by the heat of the Sun. Hear him screeching in pain as he seeks the hole in the sky which is the entrance to the Spirit World. At long last, after great suffering, Eagle enters the Spirit World and the prayers are brought to Creator. The mission for which he was made has been accomplished. Eagle is a great symbol of steadfast love for Creator and His Creation. Thank you Eagle for being true to your purpose! (HwAn-Pi-Khaw = Ronald Roybal)

Monday, September 21, 2009

Sun Journey - Ronald Roybal - Healing Native American Music

When I was younger, I arose before dawn and went to a promontory in the desert and drew a circle around me. I blessed the 4 Directions as the Sun was born into a new day. I stayed in that circle all day long, fasting and praying and watching the Sun journey across the sky. I saw the Sun battle the forces of darkness until, reddened with many wounds, it returned once more to the Earth. One day, my Body will return to the Earth bearing many wounds but my Spirit will be singing all the way into the Spirit World... (HwAn-Pi-Khaw = Ronald Roybal)

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Peyote Song. Blessed Father

Sky Father,
Holy One,
Let all your creation love and honor you.
Give us today what we need,
not what we desire.
Forgive us when we offend you,
remind us to forgive all who offend us.
Lead us on the good road,
pick us up when we stumble and fall.
Aho!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Where The Water Cuts Through - Ronald Roybal - Native American Flute Music

The title of this song is actually the true name of San Ildefonso Pueblo translated from the Tewa language. The guitar represents the Rio Grande that flows through the Pueblo. The flute represents two birds calling to one another. These birds symbolize the Summer and Winter people of the Pueblo. The photographs that I selected for the video represent Pueblo women as the vessels of life that they are. Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Dream Warrior - Ronald Roybal - Native American Flute Music

The idea of 'Dream Warrior' actually came to me in a dream. It was a great dream that actually told a very interesting story. The Dream Warrior, in my dream, protects my Song Spirit. He protects my musical gifts from harm so that the music can continue to help the people. This is the song that describes the Dream Warrior that lives in all of us.

Monday, August 31, 2009

Shlomo Mintz:Bach Sonata No.2 BWV1003 ⅰ

Bach's humanity shines through in this movement from the Sonata in A Minor. Maestro Mintz is a gifted interpreter and plays with a grace that leaves me breathless. Words cannot express the depth of emotion that I feel when I hear this. Music is a healing power and I am so fortunate to have ears to hear it...

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field in 3D

I wish everyone on Earth could see this and understand that we and our problems are not at the center of the Universe. We exist on a speck of dust floating in the Cosmos. Yet, we are capable of contemplating this awesome majesty. Could it be that Creator has endowed us with the ability to see this great truth so we can understand our true place in the Universe and act humbly before Him and each other?

Friday, August 28, 2009

Northern Cree-Red Skin Girl

Red Skin Girl - Sung by Northern Cree

take a look
just one more time
beautiful smile
beautiful eyes
that's a red skin girl
she's so pretty
she's so fine
red skin girl
i'll love you all the time.

Hoka!

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Evening Song - Ronald Roybal - Native American Flute Music

I wrote 'Evening Song' in memory of my Dad's parents. When I was a youngster, my Grandparent's called me 'Rabbit Boy' because I was a good hunter of cottontail rabbits. During the Winter season, I would visit them on the weekends after gathering firewood and go hunting for them in the evening. I remember them looking through the frosty window pane to see me return. When I would come into the house, Grandma would warm me up with a bowl of Atole, blue corn mush sweetened with honey and cinnamon. Grandpa would tell me stories about what a good hunter he was when he was a boy. They loved rabbit and I was so proud to be able to hunt for them. I included photos of lodges to go with this song because the song is about home and good memories.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

ARTS: Being a Successful Musician

Larry Livingstone, Professor at Thornton School of Music, speaks about the four pillars of being a successful musician.
Skill, Agility, Range of Expertise and Passion are what are needed to be successful in this most risky of professions. You budding musicians out there, learn from Dr. Livingstone and apply the teaching to your situation. In my experience as a successful musician, his advice is spot on! RR

Friday, August 14, 2009

THIS OLD GUITAR - John Denver

This song is how I feel about my guitar. I have a guitar that I have played nearly every day for the last 20 years. I still have the guitar I bought with my paper route money when I was 12 years old. I was so excited when my Dad took me to the store to get it. The flute is a wonderful instrument, but the guitar is my first love. The guitar was the instrument that I played for Betty when we were first courting. I won her over with songs that I composed just for her. I hope I can play the instrument until the day I pass into the spirit world...

Monday, August 10, 2009

Santa Cruz- David Qualey

David Qualey's 'Santa Cruz' is one of my favorites. I remember the first time I heard it. I was having some home brewed Raspberry ale with a guitarist friend of mine. He asked me if I had ever heard of David and put his record on the turntable (yes, it was that long ago!). 'Santa Cruz' came up and it was just one of the most joyful pieces of music I had ever heard. The Raspberry ale just added to the experience. This song and the memory of hearing it for the first time has stayed with me for many years. I hope you enjoy it! RR

Monday, August 3, 2009

John Denver - I Guess He'd Rather Be in Colorado

I've been very homesick about Colorado the last few days. I have lived in New Mexico for 12 years but I was born and raised in Colorado. Don't get me wrong...I really like New Mexico and there are things I can do here that I could never do in Colorado. There are no NDN Pueblos in Colorado. I could never make a decent living as a performer in Colorado. My ancestors left New Mexico in order to make a living in Colorado. I ended up doing the opposite.

I miss Colorado because of the enormity of the mountains. The beauty of the alpine meadows is hard to describe. The numerous streams and lakes filled with fish found throughout the state can keep a fisherman busy for a lifetime. The state seems to be designed for outdoor recreation of all sorts.

I used to listen to this song often when I was attending Theological Seminary in the early 80s in southern Indiana. My classmates could tell that I was homesick when they could hear this song playing in my room. It was hard to be away from Colorado and most of my family and friends sometimes. It still is. RR

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Spirit - Eagles and Horses

I had a Vision of Eagles and Horses...like Eagles and Horses, I'm flying again! RR

Saturday, August 1, 2009

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

'Rocky Mountain High' was the first album I ever bought with my lawn mowing money. I thought this song was a like prayer. I still get choked up when I hear it...( a musician thing). I now live in New Mexico but I grew up in Colorado. I miss the mountains in Colorado so much. There's something about them that feels so good when you are up there looking down on the world below. It's a piece of heaven... RR