Mindfulness in the Midst of It (2020) – R. Michael Daugherty (United States)
Mindfulness (heartfulness) is an awareness of everything around us — good, bad, or indifferent. Full awareness in the present moment must include rising global temperatures seen in melting sea ice, shrinking glaciers, and warming permafrost. It also must include the global Coronavirus pandemic. The latter, in addition to killing thousands, has led to travel restrictions that are reducing our carbon footprint and restoring water quality in places like Venice, Italy. It is very odd in this moment to realize how much we influence the environment and that we can have a positive effect in reducing global warming if we act together and act now.
That realization sheds some hope that we can still save our feverish planet. It is what we pray for.
Ann adds: Bringing mindfulness to all of our actions and their impact on the planet is essential as we tackle climate issues.
R. Michael Daugherty’s catalog of compositions contains over 300 works, including song cycles, choral works and pieces for orchestra, band, chamber ensembles and solo instruments. His vocal music is text-driven, and his instrumental music strives for accessibility within the context of pantonal techniques.
Daugherty has won prizes for his orchestra works (Nothing Bitter Suite, Lux Perpetua and Morning on Gem Lake) choral works (Fischerweisse, Give All to Love) and chamber/instrumental works (Time by the River, Trombone Soup) as well as honorable mentions for his songs and song cycles (Going to Heaven!, The Authentic Cadences of Gerard Manley Hopkins). His works are published by Abundant Silence and by Diaphonia Edizioni, with many others available from https://www.rmichaeldaugherty.com.
His works have been called “delightfully varied… engaging” – Lee Lourdeaux, Durham Morning Herald; “spirited and interesting” – Nell Hirschberg, The News and Observer; and “eminently embraceable…moving, whimsical…rewarding” — Robert Palmer, music critic Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Dr. Daugherty holds a B.A. degree from Denison University, studying with Eliot Borishansky and M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from The Ohio State University studying with Marshall Barnes. He taught at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, North Carolina, for over thirty years, retiring in 2011. He now lives in Vero Beach, Florida, with his wife Lorraine.
Ann DuHamel 