The Roots & Rhythm of the Heart: Our Musical Connection to Identity, Spirit, and Lineage

The beat of the heart is structured, not improvised; it is a perpetual non-fleeting pulse spanning all human life until it is the last rhythm produced in our own conscious existence. Listening to the final beats of my father's heart - his last eternal live music performance gave me a chance to reflect on the blood within me, the blood that pumps through my own heart, my roots, my lineage, my musical individuation. Bearing the deep sadness of the death of my father at the forefront with a global pandemic gripping the world, social hostility, and political divide - the heartbeat gave a new meaning, something deeper and more personal, impacting my existential inquiry on the power of music and the human condition. This book shares stories of the heart and offers an invitation for creative reflection and music listening that supports the reader's journey in considering how music in the heart can influence your own personal story, identity, health, and wellness.