My friend celticmusiclover has a forum thread we have been contributing to on birdsong and it’s connection to music.
Today he posted a link to a remarkable video that immediately brought tears to my eyes as I remembered my childhood evenings spent on Loon Lake. I know the legend that follows very well and want to share it with you.
Loons in the Moonlight
Late one night a young brave was awakened by the sound of a hauntingly beautiful voice. The enchanting voice called and the brave followed the sound to the banks of the lake. As the mist rose off the surface of the water he sat by the lake and listened to the mystical voice dreaming of a beautiful lady singing the mesmerizing song. He searched for her in the moonlight until the red sky of the morning rising sun dried the dew on the grass and the melodies faded away.Every night he awoke to her voice and followed it to the lake and searched in vain for the lady in the mist.
He fell deeply in love with the soul whose mystical song touched his heart and became very depressed that he could never find the one who moved him so. He was so sad he became very sick, would not eat, could not sleep and lost the will to live. Close to death he lay by the lake still hoping to see his lady when out of the mist appeared a figure singing a magic song, although there were no words to her song it told him the Lady of the Mist had a gift for him. So he would always have her voice with him to bring joy to his heart and console him when he was sad. She had a special present for him.
When the figure approached him she appeared to him as a Majestic Loon gliding across the water towards him. She took a reed from the lake and placed it into his hand. It was transformed into a reed flute with the most wonderful magical voice and then she disappeared with the mist.
The brave played the flute and as it sang out he became strong. The voice of the flute always brought joy not only to him but to everyone who heard it. The flute not only consoled him, but he consoled others with its mystic voice. At twilight in the early morning mist you can still hear the Lady of the Lake in the reed flute as it echoes’s across the water like “Loons in the Moonlight”.
There are no words for this… beautiful, just beautiful. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing the Native American flute before, and it’s simply haunting, isn’t it? :)
.-= Tony Single´s last blog ..How Pole Dancing Was Made =-.
I’m so glad you liked it. I closed my eyes and relived my childhood experience of hearing the legend and the drums and the flutes. It’s amazing how these events in my childhood have been recorded in my memory and how much they evoke the same feelings I had then.
So this is the beautiful story! It really is. Thank you for sharing with me and everyone this piece. I now understand why the song moved you so. :)
.-= celticmusicfan´s last blog ..Sweet Song – Cecile Corbel new video =-.
My respect for and love of animals both wild and domestic and for First Nations people’s in rooted in my childhood. I have a First Nations ancestor and I do attend drumming and dance circles. I have also been known to attend Long House teachings in winter months.
Beautiful…
I’ve owned some of the Native American Flute CDs from Carlos Nakai and Douglas Blue-Feather… but this is my first exposure to John De Boer.
I loved the story as well… Beautiful music, beautiful scenery, breath taking art of all variety… it is incredible to me just how much this can strengthen us… and as we bring more beauty into our ‘external’ world, more and more beauty begins to shine out from within…
I used to fancy myself a “tough guy”… so it took me a while to learn to appreciate this… but I’m very glad that I did!
Thank you for a very moving post!
keep smiling,
Ben
.-= Find yourself with a smile…´s last blog ..At Last… Learn How To Build Concentration Right Now! =-.
I also know Charles Nakai and Douglas Blue-Feather’s music too and like it very much. Until lastfm decided to charge Canadians money to belong I really enjoyed being a member there. The closer we get to nature the closer we get to being just human – just animal – just one of the many – and part of the whole.
TT, honestly I am not particularly drawn to flute music (Not sure if it is because I played one for years…or if attending my son’s fourth grade recorder concert this past summer cured me of the experience…Ha! Ha!)
However,… I find this to be exceptionally beautiful, calming, and hypnotic.
Thank you for sharing. Loved it.
~Nards
.-= Nards´s last blog ..Song of the day: I Will Remember You – Amy Grant =-.
It was celticmusicfan that brought this video to my attention and he has a great music blog (hint). Thanks for your music too Nards.
Love you :)
That was absolutely lovely TT. I have some music on my site and I think it’s Indian flute but I am not absolutley sure. I put my collection of favourite quotes and proverbs on this page and it has a background music that will move you as you read the beautiful sayings. And I do so want to share it with you if you don’t mind.
http://funkkeejooce.com/inspiration.html
To hear the one with the Indian flute you have to click on the Quotes and proverbs link on the right side. Please see it and I think you will like it.
There is something magical about Indian flutes. It raises the hairs on my arms.
I have kept you waiting and a apologize. I’m so sorry that trips to doctors and hospitals have derailed my plan to promptly reply to every comment. I love your inspiration pages but couldn’t find the music. Thanks so much for posting the link.
timethief, you spent your childhood summers on loon lake in the adirondacks? or is there a loon lake in canada?
we spend our summers in maine and i love all of it, from water and trees to loons and bullfrogs, and the thousands of other aspects and objects of beauty!
and i love native american flute music!
.-= Lynda Lehmann´s last blog ..Reflections on Summer’s Passing =-.
@Lynda
I was referring to Loon Lake, a beautiful family vacation spot in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada. Maine sounds delightful summer spot and I’m so glad you like the music as well.