Solstice Music 2024

 

Check out more of my new music on bandcamp.
This song (and it's longer companion on the album "Eight Ways To Sunday"  focus on celebrating the sun and its connection with life.  The Summer Solstice can be an influence, a strength, an energy, a source of clarity and inspiration. 
     

The Estonian myth of Dusk & Dawn:
'Koit ja Hämarik', first published in 1840.

The Old Man of the Sky has two trustworthy helpers, who have been gifted with eternal youth.
It is they who are responsible for the sun each day.

In the beginning, when the sun had finished its very first journey across the sky,
the Old Man said to Dusk: “Into your care, my girl, I will give the setting sun.
You have to douse the light every night, so it will not harm anybody on its way to slumber.”The next morning, when the sun needed to start its next journey across the vast expanse of the blue sky, The Old Man said to Dawn: “Your job, my boy, will be to relight the sun every morning and prepare it to its daily travels.”

And so it was, both of the immortal souls did what they were asked
and the sun was up in the sky every day, not missing any days,
even when it barely peeked out across the horizon during the long dark of the winter.
On days like these, it finished its journey sooner and got enough time to sleep,
because the morning time came later on.
When the spring came, the sun woke up nature with its warm rays and knew it had to work more than it had been used to. And when the summer came, when the sun did not go to sleep at all,
Dusk gave the Sun straight to Dawn, who re-lit its dimmed glow again.

This, of course, was the time of summer solstice, when the world was filled
with flowers and song,
light and joy.
It was - and still is - the time when both helpers of The Old Man
look into each other’s eyes for the longest of times.
As Dusk handed over the Sun to Dawn, their hands touched in soft caress and their lips met in the briefest of the kisses.


But The Old Man never slept and he noticed what happened in the brief glimpse of the night.
He gathered both of them during the next day. He smiled to both his helpers and said:
“Dear ones, I am happy with your work and it is my deepest of wishes
that you will be happy together.
You two should marry and continue doing your jobs as man and wife.”
Both of them answered him in unison: “Oh please, Old Man, do not ruin our joy.
Let us just be young and in love forever as bride and groom, as our love will stay fresh and young forever.” The Old Man smiled at them again and blessed their decision and agreed to let them continue as they wanted.
And ever since then, there is a time in the year, four short weeks, when Dawn meets Dusk under the dying light of the day.
She sets the dimming sun into the hands of Dawn
and their hands meet with a soft touch and their lips meet in a sweet kiss.
Dusk’s cheeks are red and the sky reflects her joy and excitement to us all,
by glowing reddish until Dawn relights the Sun again.
Then the yellow glow will greet the sky dome again.

And this was the story of the two eternal lovers, Dusk and Dawn,
who can only meet for a short time in summer, only to be parted again.

One of many Summer Solstice tales. 
However you experience your Solstice, I hope it includes some of my music  find it at:
https://bennew.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for stopping by!