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Crow Totem

from Varianti by Amy Denio / Spoot Music

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Composed for and inspired by brilliant friend and colleague Noel Franklin, a prolific poet and graphic artist, grant writer and gardener based in Seattle. artisttrust.org/artists/noel-franklin/


Noel and I quarantined together in the early months of the Coronavirus Pandemic, and often walked together through Seahurst Park, where the hills tower over the Salish Sea. Coastal Salish tradition holds that the ancestors can be found in those forests.

In late May, 2020 I found her dead from diabetic shock.

Soon after, I took her spirit for a walk through those beautiful ravines. It was the peak of the summer solstice, and the Salish Sea (Puget Sound) was glittering like diamonds through the trees. A melody came to me so I began to sing to her spirit. It felt like a gift from Salish ancestors.

Noel has Cherokee and Shoshone blood, and she often drew crows, her animal totem.

Soon after that afternoon in the forest, a fledgling crow began to follow me silently on my walks around West Seattle. It would sweep past my right ear, land gracefully before me, turn around and look at me, then take wing ~ again and again. When I sang that melody to the fledgling it stared at me, motionless.

One day I captured it taking wing, seemingly poised to carry my message of love to the other side.

credits

from Varianti, released March 15, 2024
Amy Denio: composition and recording of vocal melody, accordion and clarinet @ Spaciouser Spoot Studios, West Seattle WA
Tara Forth: voice, piano/violin/hammer dulcimer orchestration
Steve Kirk: guitar, bass, percussion orchestration
Mixed by Steve Kirk
Released on November 7, 2020
Mastered by Steve Turnidge, UltraViolet Studios, Seattle WA

c 2020 Spoot Music, ASCAP

Photo: Fledgling Crow, Fellow Traveller (Amy Denio)

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Amy Denio / Spoot Music Hansville, Washington

Home taper since high school, Denio has composed & recorded 600+ songs ~ solo & with artists all over the world. .

She's received awards, fellowships & commissions for her soundtracks for modern dance, film, TV, theater, websites.

She founded Tone Dogs (1987-1991),Tiptons Sax Quartet (1988-present) plays in Kultur Shock (1999-present) and Correo Aereo (2004-present).

Info: amydenio.me ... more

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