Dear Listeners of All Genders,

Ah yes, today, March 8, is International Women's Day.  I'm a broad.  I've lived abroad.  I qualify.

Man, do I have a good show for you this morning!

Starting with these amazing voices:  In Mulieribus.  Their name is Latin.  It means "Amongst Women."  What better way to begin this day than with them performing a piece by perhaps one of the earliest female composers the world has known:  the beloved Hildegard von Bingen (12th century).  See the lyrics in Latin (and translated into English) below.  Indeed, Mary, the ultimate woman, proceded from the finger of God...  In Mulieribus is a Portland-based group of seven women who perform beautiful pieces of days of yore--WAY yore--we're talking the 11th through 15th centuries here.  Anna Song is their director.  Isn't her name wonderful?

I have thrown in music from just down the street (Haris Blackwood and Joni Laurence) and from just down the continental plate (an extraordinary female Tuvan throat singer by the name of Sainkho).  Squeezed in some Greek and German and Gregorian Chant into the mix.  If this isn't music to celebrate all that is beautiful, strong, resilient, prayerful, joyful, loving, and caressing, I don't know what is.  There's a set dedicated to motherhood and one dedicated to saying ciao to a ill-fitting man, one that lifts up women of color, one that explores the voices from women around this world.

And, of course, I have to play at least one song of defiance.  And what could be stronger and more assertive than the lyrics telling that gumshoe to take a major hike than Sarah Vaughn's stellar classic, Peter Gunn?  See those lyrics below and rejoice if you're shaking dirt from your sandals...  Sing and shout along!

Oh my.  Would that I could have twenty-four hours of International Women's Day all to myself.  I could fill it with strains, sounds, and voices of the most precious...

Men:  you are not forgotten.

Warmly,

Diane Hunt

Cum processit factura

Cum processit factura digiti Dei,
formata ad imaginem Dei,
in ortu mixti sanguinis
per peregrinationem casus Ade,
elementa susceperunt gaudia in te,
o laudabilis Maria,
Celo rutilante
et in laudibus sonante.

English translation of Cum processit factura:
Proceeding from the finger of God,
made in the image of God,
this creation was held
within a womb of mixed blood
because of Adam's exiled wanderings,
yet the elements responded with joy for you,
O praiseworthy Mary,
as the heavens shimmered
and sounded praise to you.

Lyrics to Peter Gunn :
Every night your line is busy,
All that buzzin' makes me dizzy.
Couldn't count on all my fingers
All the dates you had with swingers.
Bye-bye.
Bye, baby.
I'm gonna kiss you goodbye
And walk right through that doorway.
So long.
I'm leaving.
This is the last time we'll meet
On the street going your way.
Don't look surprised.
You know you've buttered your bread.
So now it's fair
You should stare
At the back of my head.
If you write a letter to me my former friend, don't you end with an R.S.V.P

I'm going bye, bye, I'm moving,

Tomorrow I may be splittin' to Britain or Norway

I'm saying bye, bye, bye baby

Now that I heard all that jazzin' whereas I have had it, I've had it

I'm through now with you now

So baby it's au revoir, adios, ciao-ciao, goodbye.