Good Morning from Prince Edward Island,
 
 
Fauci says Canada isn't mishandling the pandemic's third wave. 
 
Do you have time for a cuppa? Great. It might be another two cuppa visit.
 
Thank you to all who take the time to comment on the blog each week.
 
Big ghost hug to last week’s commentators. Alana, Alejandro Susan, Kathleen, Deborah, Peggy, Susan, Julie, Allison, Lynn, Pam, Susan E-J, Althea, Zyna, Kay, Gillian, Sue, Stephanie, Sharon, Michelle, Kevin, Victoria, Cynthia.
 
Last weeks blog touched on the power of music in our lives.
 
On Saturday mornings, when preparing the blog, I tend to listen to piano music while writing.
 
What struck me today was a lot of musical artists I enjoy listening to are from Iceland. 
 
Today’s thread is Iceland.
 
I started research whether I was the only one noticing the creative forces coming from the tiny island of 369,000 people. I found out others have seen as well. Moreover, there were lots of interesting articles about this phenomenon.
 
When I have travelled, I have fond memories of people who lived on Islands. There is something special about Islanders globally.
 
Everyone knew that all islands were worlds unto themselves, that to come to an island was to come to another world. ~ Guy Gavriel Kay
 
On Prince Edward Island is The Institute of Island Studies; a research, education, and public policy institute. Based out of the University of Prince Edward Island. The Institute’s work focuses on the culture, environment, and economy of small islands.
 
"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave,
find your eternity in each moment.
Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land.
There is no other land; there is no other life but this." ~ Henry David Thoreau
 
Article: Something in the water: what makes Icelandic music so creative? By Tony Clayton-Lea of The Irish Times. Story here.
 
"In some countries, people knock you down as soon as you try to stand out. In Iceland, it is the reverse. The Icelandic community is so small,” adds Arnalds, “that we have to work with each other.” Singer and songwriter Jófríður Ákadóttir aka JFDR agrees with Arnalds. Chatting before rehearsing new material with the Reykjavik Chamber Orchestra, she allows that because there are so many accomplished musicians in Iceland, there is less rivalry. “I don’t think music thrives very well when there is a lot of competition,” she remarks. “Ireland and Iceland are generally very supportive to musicians, but you have to be resourceful as well because there aren’t that many people here.”
 
I first discovered Ólafur Arnalds listening to The Chopin Project.
 
If you have time to watch this, it is a beautiful opportunity to get a sense of his creativity and the beauty of his music. Lay back and listen to Ólafur Arnalds - Live at Sydney Opera House.
 

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato.

 
 
Why tiny Iceland is a global giant in the field of music by CBC Radio. Story here.
 
From the article, “according to Kjartan Olafsson, the chair of the Society of Icelandic Composers and a professor of music composition and theory at the Iceland Academy of the Arts, Iceland's musical community is profoundly influenced by the forces of the natural world.
 
Artists are travelling worldwide and getting influenced by different cultures and merging those influences with their musical creation. - Kjartan Olafsson , professor.
 
"We are very close to nature," Olafsson told The Sunday Edition's host Michael Enright.
 
"We are living very close to active volcanoes and earthquakes — I think it's about 300 earthquakes a day here in Iceland, so we are very close to it. Especially in the early days — the middle of the last century — artists and composers like Jon Leifs were very concerned with nature. And I think nature is affecting music today."
 
A few blogs back, I shared the wonderful music of pianist Vikingur Olafsson.
 
 
This morning, I have been listening to Anneke van Giersbergen & Arstioir. Their version of Londonderry Air (Danny Boy) is so beautifully done. Sample Listen Here.
 
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have
if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru
 
I am not sure my perspective is different from others, but as an adopted person I feel life is a gift. Family, friends, flowers, food, art, music and nature are all gifts. 
 

A few weeks back, I watched The Silent Child. This 20-minute video moved me. So well done. Bonus: it won Best Short Film at the Oscars this week.

Our senses are gifts, and I feel blessed to have the gift of hearing. 
Shirley and I agreed that our first vacation out of the country would be to Iceland. Not sure when that will happen, but it will.
 
I have an idea. Why don’t we all go together today?
 

 

 

May joy be your constant companion this weekend and more than an acquaintance next week.

 
With love from Prince Edward Island,
 
Bruce + Millie
ps. Your Morning Smile
I built a model of Mount Everest.
My son asked, “Is it to scale?”
I replied, “No... it’s to look at.”