Hello. I am 32 years old. I was introduced to Loreena's music by my friend, I'd say about...gosh, 10 years ago or so. But, the only album I was introduced to was Book of Secrets.
Anyway, I listened to the album over and over and over again. Everytime I'd hear her voice my eyes would water.
I am a mother of two sons, and my oldest son has autism. He is now going to be 12 years old in a week, and I remember when he was four years old, we had to travel 3 hours north of Chicago, to take him to a neurologist. He would get horribly antsy in the car, and the ONLY, ONLY thing that would calm him was if I popped in Book of Secrets. So, I'd pop it in the player, and INSTANTLY he became mesmerized. As he grew older, he would tell me (as he spoke very little), "Play music, mommy. Play music." Music to him=Book of Secrets, and it was ONLY Book of Secrets he would accept.
And even as he got older, he would sit in his room and listen to Book of Secrets over and over and over again.
I used to have to send the cd off to school with him to calm him throughout the day.
Needless to say, this album means very much to me. It was there for me, and for my son, when I thought we were BOTH going to lose our minds.
So, as time went on even more, I would bring this album to work with me. I ended up loaning it to someone, and I never got it back. Or I lost it, or SOMETHING. But I no longer have it in my possession.
I was reminded of Loreena, this evening, because my husband was going through youtube and found something on the Chieftans. Some woman was singing, and my husband was going on and on about liking her voice and liking that celtic-style/type of music, and Loreena just popped into my head.
I looked her up on youtube, and we caught "Mummer's Dance" and "The Highway Man", and he was mesmerized by her voice as well.
So, now, here I am. Longing for another copy of "Book of Secrets" (which I am going to order), and a desire to own everything she's ever done.
So, no, I do not have HALF the Loreena knowledge that most of you likely have, but I will be popping up here every so often to check things out. And to learn and share.
Her voice is AMAZING. Very few musicians make my eyes water upon hearing them, but her voice just runs from my ears to my toes.
So, Hello! And now that I've rambled on and on, I am off to bed!
Hello Rebecca, I wanted to welcome you to the QRMB. I'm about 6 weeks into discovering Loreena. You can read my intro. somewhere on the MB. I was very moved by your story. I read somewhere that Loreena is interested in the healing effects of music. There is a book written by a neurologist named Oliver Sacks "Musicophilia:Tales of Music and the Brain". I think there was a comment about this book by LM, but I can't find it on the internet. I'm probably not looking in the right area. I thought you might be interested in this book,in particular, because of the affect LM's music had on your son. Mr. Sacks also wrote "Awakenings". I'm sure Ms. McKennitt would be very happy to hear about your son and his positive response to her music. Hope you enjoy yourself on the QRMB. Take care,
Posts: 32 | Location: Michigan | Registered: February 17, 2009
...well, except maybe when I'm in a hurry (which I'm not at the moment, obviously)
Like your younger son I'm into Piano/Keyboard as well, although I'm getting to be a little more like your elder son: I picked up Ukulele on new years eve, and I would love to learn Bass Guitar, Tin Whistle and Sitar! (yes, the last one was LM-inspired...listen to Cymbeline on The Visit when you get it! There is also an Electric Sitar featured on Dark Night of the Soul on The Mask and Mirror)
I'm doing a photography class at school, although we've only been working with darkroom technology such as photograms and pinhole cameras - we're not quite up to actual cameras...yet!
Are you enjoying your time here? Learnt a lot about Loreena yet?
Posts: 706 | Location: In my bed curled up with my cat | Registered: July 15, 2008
I never imagined a pitt bull terrier to look like that! I thought they used to be white and with a very pointed nose. Are you sure it is pure pitt bull? (Of course you must know!) It looks so trustful. Maybe because you took the picture
Posts: 925 | Location: Denmark | Registered: January 25, 2008
Sorry I did not thank you all earlier, we were out of town, and then I was busy with my youngest son because he got a stomach bug. He's better now, though.
My youngest son loves music, too, but his instrument of choice is the piano/keyboard. My oldest son loves every instrument (which, unfortunately, I simply cannot afford!). When he was younger, I enrolled him into a children's general music class, but sensory-wise, it was entirely too over-stimulating for him. He was really young, though, then. So, if I could get him to decide on an instrument, I'd get him lessons. For now, he is in his school's choir. And he has an absolutely BEAUTIFUL voice. I can never get him to sing for me, but the other day I was downstairs putting his brother's laundry away, and he was in his room with his door shut, completely unaware that I was down there. He was singing. And, WOW! he can REALLY make some beautiful sounds with that voice of his. But with influences such as Loreena and Ella Fitzgerald, I suppose I would expect no less.
Some more about me: Let's see...I believe I mentioned that we own a dog (cannot remember if I mentioned it in this thread, or another one here), and my son actually named her Ella Fitzgerald. We adopted her over 2 years ago from a shelter in Chicago. One thing about most people with Autism, they are REALLY unsure about dogs (and most animals) because dogs are unpredictable, and people with autism need consistency and predictability in their lives. He didn't like dogs. I grew up with dogs my entire life, though. So...I worked with him on it. I decided on adopting, did a google search for local shelters, and I found this particular shelter. I went to their website, and...I found her. I never had any intention of adopting an American Pit Bull Terrier, but we did. And I'm glad we did. She's the BEST dog EVER. She's SOOOO good with my children, and she loveslovesloves EVERY human we come across. And I know that pit bulls have HORRID reputations, but by doing breed research (BEFORE adopting her), I found they do not deserve the bad reputation they have. Anyway, we met with a behaviorist before adopting her, and we observed her with our children, and she was a perfect fit for our family.
We run a small e-business making dog leashes. I got the idea because I wanted a more comfortable lead to walk my dog with. I also knew I could not foster for our local rescue (Ella does not get along well with other dogs), so I started making leashes to donate. Now, we sell a lot of leashes, and we also donate to a LOT of pit bull rescues and other various dog rescues around USA and Canada. We named our business "Ella's Lead", after Ella, of course. So, that's what I do most of my weekdays...I answer emails and handle orders.
Oh! here's a picture of Ella. She has the BEST EARS EVER. Ella Smella
Another thing I am into is photography. I just started out with it in May '08, and in that time I've managed to acquire a Nikon D60, a Nikon D300, 2 external flash units, and about 10 lenses. It's what I love to do in my spare time. Ella is usually my photography victim as she is the one home with me most of the time when my children are at school, and my husband is off at work. But she doesn't mind. She gets a game of fetch or a tasty salmon treat for pictures.
Ok, well, I'm rambling again. Yikes! Sorry for being so long-winded once again!
a warm welcome to this board. It's a wonderful experience you tell about the beneficial effect of Loreena's music on your son. As a nurse in Loreena's tour documentary says, her music is very healing and powerful. I myself work with adult handicapped people and people with brain injuries in my dance and theatre school. Some of them are autistic, too. It's my experience that music, especielly such like Loreena's, has the best influence on them - and on me in this way you describe of yourself!
Have much fun and inspiration on this board. Dieter
Posts: 55 | Location: Lilienthal near Bremen/Germany | Registered: December 22, 2008
Hi Rebecca! Welcome to the message board! That is certainly an amazing story about your son! I wonder if any of Loreena's other albums would calm him down as much as TBOS does? You certainly have a lot of choice; Loreena has eight studio albums available, as well as a couple of live albums (may I recommend An Ancient Muse?) it is my favourite...but only by the tiniest little bit!) I hope you have lots of fun here...you'll certainly learn heaps about Loreena during your time with us! I've gotta go! BIG HUG from Jesse
Posts: 706 | Location: In my bed curled up with my cat | Registered: July 15, 2008
Welcome to this forum, Rebecca! While I read your words my mind goes back in the past, when I teached in a school where there were children with the same problem of your son or similar. It was a difficul job and I remember the "power" of the music for them. Your son is right: in my opinion the Book of secrets is one of the most beautiful Loreena's CD . Among those songs I love Dante's prayer. When I listened to it I cried and cried... And I think that it was very important in my life: that song has touched my soul and has changed it. So I understand you when you say :"my eyes would water" Thank you because you have shared your experience with us. enjoy the forum! Mary
