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...

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?

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!

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.

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

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...

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

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

Spirit - Eagles and Horses

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

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