.jpg "Meditations on Life ~ Death")
Buy a CD
Meditations on Life~Death brings together poetry, visual art, and music contemplating life's most profound journey. This hardcover with two CDs was created as a series of meditations to provide comfort and solace to those coming to terms with death.
Meditations on Life~Death was made available free to over 3,000 hospices in North America with the generous assistance of Ivy Hill Corporation, Sony Disc Manufacturing, Sealed Air Corporation and Federal Express.
Featuring: Blythe Danner, Jennifer Harmon, Julie Harris and Edward Herrmann
Reading Words of: Wallace Stevens, e.e. Cummings, Emily Dickinson, George Eliot, Robert Frost, William Shakespeare
Music of: J.S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, Samuel Barber, Joseph Haydn, William Schumann
Performed by: Voces Novae, pianist Leonard Hokanson, harpist Elzbieta Szmyt, flutist Grey Larsen, and ensemble, Liaison
Reproductions of artworks by: Van Gogh, Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Rothko
Responses to Voces Novae's Meditations on Life~Death
A unique compilation of classical music, readings, and art contemplating life's most profound journey
"Any sensitive person can sit quietly with the book of texts and paintings while listening with mind and heart, and can find a new or renewed sense of peace about life and death. I cannot recommend this set highly enough."
Victor Hill, Ph.D., The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
"Meditations on Life~Death is a unique and beautiful work. Through music, poetry and art, it appeals to many senses, serving as a comforting midwife during the period of spiritual birthing."
Rabbi Levi Meier, Ph.D.,
Chaplain, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center,
Psychologist and author of Ancient Secrets
"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sending this most profound gathering of art, poetry and music. I found it tremendously moving and wonderfully comforting."
Laurie Witmeyer, Director
Sunset House, Rochester, NY
"Few events in life expose us to our own mortality more than our own pending death or the loss of someone close. Meditations on Life~Death has been a companion for me after the loss of several loved ones. The compiled material is rich with emotion that accompanies the journey through grief and acceptance. The images, the music, the spoken word are helpful guides as one continues the precious dance of our existence. I keep several copies of Meditations on hand to have something to share with someone when nothing can be said."
John Cender
Fischer, Illinois
"On a personal note, my Mother died recently, so I'm listening from that perspective. I intend to share the resource with others and make staff aware of its availability to use with certain patients. It may also be used as a gift. It is so well done!
Pamela Barrett, CEO
Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, North Carolina
"Your very beautiful collection of music and readings is perfect! Thank you for your insight and sensitivity to the needs of the dying, their families, and the staff who care for them."
Ruth Anne Sieber, HOSPICE Clinical Supervisor,
Lewistown Hospital, Pennsylvania
"Thank you for the absolutely marvelous CD's and Meditations on Life~Death book! Both the music and the writings are far more than excellent."
Jim Barker, Director
Hospice Support Services of the Lenowisco Area, Appalachia, Virginia
"Your beautiful Meditations CD was sent to our Director...She has shared it with nurses, chaplains, and social workers. It is a beautiful concept, beautifully done. Thank you again for the beauty of your music, art, poetry and concept. It is night perfect to these ears and heart."
Chaplain Peggy Braden,
Beaumont Hospice, Troy, Michigan
"Meditations fits our need to encourage people to appreciate everyday experiences as profound and to find meaning in the profound experience of dying."
Ellen Surburg, CRNH, Director,
Hospice of Bloomington Hospital, Bloomington, Indiana
"I am aware of no other endeavor that so beautifully combines literature, the visual and musical arts to address the theme of death and dying. At a time when the improvement of the care of the dying has become a national concern, Voces Novae has performed a wonderful service of compassion and hope."
John T. VanderZee, D. Min, BCC
Director, Pastoral Services, Bloomington Hospital, Indiana
President, Indiana Chaplains Association
"Voces Novae is an ensemble with a humanitarian mission in the broadest sense of the word, examining what it means to be human through the arts. The chamber choir is joined in the project by many excellent and highly respected musical and dramatic artists. Meditations brings together some acknowledged jewels of the choral repertoire, along with many other works: an ambitious collection of considerable substance and variety of styles, both in the musical and the literary selections."
Cary Boyce
Bloomington Independent