kaddish in two-part harmony
A conversation between an anthropologist and a musician along with a growing virtual minyan, on themes of death and dying, grief, ritual, and the interplay between music and words.about
Author Archives: erin
a kaddish for too many suicide victims—but it gets better!
This is a kaddish for too many suicide victims. Since suicide is a contagious disease, and it’s in the headlines again, I think it’s urgent for parents, friends, family, teachers, coaches, and vague acquaintances of young gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, … Continue reading
a kaddish for sigrid syltetøy vang, b. 2006, d. 27 February 2018
Sigrid was sweet, fun, goofy, curious; all the usual cat things. Silky and beautiful. By far the most beautiful cat I have ever known. Continue reading
guest kaddish: velvet marquesa flicka storm, 11 august 2005–9 april 2015
Dad (Paul F. Vang) wrote this remembrance of a darned sweet black lab, whom I named (see below) and will always remember as the best lap-lab ever. There was nothing quite like relaxing in a recliner with Flicka stretched full-length on your lap. We miss you, Flicka. Continue reading
guest kaddish: Gudrun Fossum Vang (16 June 1905–3 April 1972)
Dad wrote this remembrance of his mother on her Yahrtzeit in an email to the family last week, and he agreed with my suggestion to post it here. Continue reading
Posted in guest essays, kaddish in two-part harmony
Tagged Gudrun Fossum Vang, Lou Gehrig's disease, yahrtzeit
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occasional kaddish: for Josephine Selvig Anderson (11 April 1915– 22 January 2012)
My great-aunt Joad died a few days ago, of wicked old age. I didn’t record a kaddish for her tonight. Instead, I recorded some traditional shofar calls. Continue reading
daily kaddish: our project’s yahrtzeit
This is the final daily podcast recording of “Kaddish” for the yearlong “kaddish in two-part harmony” project that Mira and I began a lunar year ago, on 7 November 2010. Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts, project news
Tagged project Yahrtzeit
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daily kaddish: on the eve of K2PH’s Yahrtzeit
Thoughts of our project’s beginnings brought my beloved Nanc to mind, and Mira’s Galina. Continue reading
daily kaddish: thanksgiving
With only a few more daily Kaddishim to go in our project, Mira and I appreciated the chance to make a Kaddish recording together with our gathered beloved. Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts
Tagged daughters, fathers, friends, mothers, Thanksgiving
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daily kaddish: missing (yet again!)
Here’s another missing Kaddish recording. I made this recording—I swear I did, mumbling into my iPhone, exhausted, late at night after a Thanksgiving feast and afterward sleeping through a movie. However, the next day, my new iPhone arrived, and I forgot to get the recording off my old iPhone before wiping it and turning it over to Dad. Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts
Tagged exhausted, iPhone, missing, Thanksgiving
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daily kaddish: for mourning itself
Mira said it really well—our yearlong project of mourning together in this “kaddish in two-part harmony” project has done the job. It has worked so well that we both feel good and done with mourning itself. Our grief is replaced with happiness, and there are moments when that feels—well, sad. Continue reading
Posted in kaddish in two-part harmony, podcasts, project news
Tagged happiness, mourning, project, ritual
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