Uncertain times, shifting times, and at this writing, winter storms of all sorts, as well.

And yet...there is Valentine’s Day.

Also, at this time of year in the United States, and at other times in other parts of the world, there are (official edicts aside), celebrations of Black history and story.

Celebrations and reminders of love of all sorts, and resilience of all sorts -- both well needed as time and circumstance continue to shift.

There’s good music to go along with these ideas.

Bernice Johnson Reagon knew music early, growing up a preacher’s daughter. Growing up a child and young woman -- a Black child and young woman -- in the US south in the civil rights days of the 1950s and 1960s, she knew racism, as well.

Johnson Reagon went on to found several a capella singing groups, among them the still flourishing Sweet Honey in the Rock. She wrote songs, she made albums, she taught, she received a doctorate.

Doctor Bernice Johnson Reagon was an activist and a musician, with a powerful voice in both areas. She passed away several month ago, in her eighties. She drew on African American spiritual tradition for her song We’ve Come a Long Way to Be Together.

Natalie Haas and Brittany Haas are sisters, both talented musicians who grew up in northern California.

Though they both draw on folk and heritage music for their work, their interests have taken them in differing directions: Natalie, whose instrument is the cello, explores Celtic music as part of duo with fiddle player Alasdair Fraser, while Brittany, who plays the fiddle, explores bluegrass and Americana music with her group Hawktail.

Both collaborate on projects with other musicians as well, including several whose music you’ve met before in this series, notably Hanneke Cassel, Carrie Newcomer, and Matt and Shannon Heaton.  

The sisters had not made an album together, though...until recently. They’ve been playing together since they were children, of course, but these days schedules and geography (Natalie lives in Spain, Brittany in Tennessee) pose challenges.

They worked it out, though, to create an album of almost all original tunes. The album is called Haas, and this tune, which Natalie wrote for their father, is called The Volunteer.

The song Willie Stewart is a joyous, exuberant celebration of friendship. It was written in the eighteenth century by Scottish poet Robert Burns. It stands well through the test of time, especially in versions sung by fellow Scot Eddi Reader. You will find it recorded on Eddi’s album called Eddi Reader Sings the Songs of Robert Burns.

Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh, whose singing and fiddle playing you will know from the group Altan, wrote the song Mo Nion O for her daughter Nia.

Mairead, who grew up in the Gaeltacht/Irish speaking area of Donegal, wrote the song in Irish. Cathie Ryan, who is Irish American, heard the song and thought to offer it with words in English, and with Irish framing them.

Mairead and Nia both approved Cathie’s translation of the words. In English or Irish,those words are an expression of hope and a wish for a good future.

Be smooth the road, mo níon ó
That lies before you as you grow
Follow your heart, mo níon ó
And love will guide you as you go
Mo níon ó, óró, mo níon ó, óró,
Mo níon ó, óró,
Go dtéigh tú slán gach oíche ‘s ló
(My child o, óró, My child o, óró,
May you go safely each night and day.)

You will find it recorded on Cathie Ryan’s album Through Wind and Rain.

Boston-area musicians Matt and Shannon Heaton (he plays guitar, she the flute) offer a set of a waltz and two jigs that celebrate connection and friendship.

The Last Days of Fourth Grade, the waltz, was written several years back to celebrate a passage in their son’s schooling. Against the Grain is for their friend artist Vincent Crotty, and Jig for Tim was written for a friend’s brother. You will find the set on Matt and Shannon’s album called Whirring Wings. In addition to lots of great music, it has a fine cover image painted by Vincent Crotty.

It seems right to bring this gathering of music to a close with the song Love That Makes a Cup of Tea, written and sung by Gretchen Peters. It’s a gentle song, and as ever with Gretchen’s songs, thoughtful and thought provoking.

Gretchen is based in Nashville. Many artists have recorded her songs, among them Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, The Neville Brothers, Bryan Adams, and Etta James.

She is also an excellent performer, though she’s better known for that in the UK than in the US. A fine place to hear Love That Makes a Cup of Tea is on her album The Show: Live from the UK.

Celebrations and reminders in this season that love persists, that connection matters. May this music and the creativity of these artists be good companions to you as times continue to shift.

Thank you for staying with us through this journey. Below, you'll find a link that will take you to an article which has a bit more backstory on the series. It also has links to a number of the stories, including ones called Listening for Community, Music for Winter's Changes, and The Geography of Hope.

Music for Shifting Times

Kerry Dexter is Music Editor at Wandering Educators. 

You may find more of Kerry's work in National Geographic Traveler, Strings, Perceptive Travel, Journey to Scotland, Irish Fireside, and other places, as well as at her own site, Music Road. You can also read her work at Along the Music Road on Substack.