Tish's Corner
March 2008
Hi everyone,
It is wet, cloudy, and windy these days. Winter was never seriously cold this year in Hamburg, but it seems to be trying it's best to stay. Spring will be winning soon. Tree branches are sprouting little buds and even some brave flowers are testing the air.
On the work front, Marvin Dykhuis and I are finishing recording a new collection of songs. Because I hope to surprise you, suffice it to say that I am very satisfied with its development. We began the work while I was in Texas last December. We plan to have it finished this spring and hopefully release it in the fall. I can't wait!
Several other things are in the works right now: I'm back to the drawing board to complete an interesting little DVD project that we began some time ago. We also have a very nice spring tour coming up. I will start out with some Texas dates with Marvin and friends, including a delightful Mexican cafe (Tish en espanol), a South Austin classic club, and a festival that celebrates the life and work of a 16th century nun. Then, in San Diego (Escondido), California, a really special show with my band and two wonderful long-time friends from different ends of the musical spectrum: Honky-tonk angel Rosie Flores and salsa/bolero king Robert "Beto" Skiles. In Nashville I'll have a songwriter circle with two wonderful, respected friends, Nashville's own Marla Cannon and Michael Hearne from New Mexico. And finally, MerleFest, a great bluegrass festival in North Carolina. Details of all these dates are posted under the "tour dates" section of my website www.mundotish.com. (Of course, you probably know that, since you found this!)
Sor Juana Inez De La Cruz was a significant source of inspiration for my "Dreaming from the Labyrinth" songs (Warner Bros. 1996). Her epic poem "Primer Sueno" ("First Dream") touches on everything from sensuality and mysticism to scientific quests of inner and outer universes. And this is only the tip of her literary iceberg. Sadly, much of her work was destroyed after her excommunication from the church for daring to explore and push the boundaries of spiritual beliefs and knowledge. It is wonderful that her life and energy has continued to grow and flourish through events such as the festival in her honor mentioned above, this year being held in Houston, Texas.
On the subject of writers. Another one who has inspired and helped my own creating is a writer named Robert Granat. He is the author of what I consider to be two really significant novels of our time: "The Important Thing" from 1962, and "Regenisis" from 1972. The first one being an intimate, eye-opening, non-glorifying look at war where young people from both sides admit to fear and question hatred. The other is a view of mental illness through an incredible journey from the inside looking out. Both brave, if unpopular topics. I would have loved to have read these in high school. I wish his publishers at that time had done more to promote his work. Unfortunately, they have been out of print for decades now, which is probably why the writer shied away from novels. I thank my lucky stars that I stumbled upon his work in a favorite used books store in Wichita Falls, Texas, (called "The Cosmic Squire"). It was there that I found an old worn paperback collection of Mexican-American short stories, which contained one of the most poignant pieces of literature I've ever read, called "To Endure". This short story led me to write "Something in the Rain". And then it led me on a serious quest to find the novels, and then their writer, who I found to be a lovely man, living in the hills of northern New Mexico, growing chile, painting, and writing pieces for Buddhist publications, not far from where I lived for ten years. What a world!
Before I close, I'll mention that one of the good things that the internet has brought us is the ability to find almost anything online. With Google, Amazon and Ebay you can probably learn more about or even purchase Sor Juana Inez De La Cruz' and Robert Granat's writings.
Well, I better go. I am actually under the weather, a late winter cold has chased my voice away and I'm trying to get it back. I will allow a little soup and orange juice pampering from my husband for a few days. (Und eine kleine Pause von der Deutschschule!)
Hope to see you soon.
Tish
P. S.: By the way, I have a MySpace account now. (Although what it's for is still a mystery to me ...)
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