LEE SAVILLE-IKSIC
Lee Saville-Iksic is a Pittsburgh-based composer, pianist, songwriter, poet, and essayist. Drawing inspiration from the profound dynamics at play within human relationships, the complexities of the human psyche, and a poetic understanding of nature and the cosmos, his work depicts “little domestic miracles” – points of merger between the mundane and the sacred. In creating such work, he hopes to resonate with a universally human urge to engage in meaningful work, a desire to participate in the ongoing creation of a world in which individuals, families, and communities live with a deep sense of abundance, resilience, and joy.
Lee lives with his wife, Rose, and two sons, Luka and Emerson. There he serves as Director of Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, performs regularly with the First Unitarian Universalist Community Singers, and frequents the local off-leash nature park with his family’s Aussie-doodle, Sophie. He is creator and producer of the MeadowSong Podcast.
MEADOWSONG
The Meadow is the dwelling place of the heart. It is the place we long for when we are not there. It is a place of abundance, of rich imagination, creativity, and generativity.
In nature, the meadow is a place teeming with life. Surrounded by the wild spaces of the woods – the silent wisdom of the trees and the mystery of the shaded world - meadows are soaked by both the rain and the sunshine. They buzz with energy and yet are spaces of repose and delight - a place in harmony with itself.
The MeadowSong project is about seeking after our heart’s deepest and truest longing, and practicing connection with the synergistic space of abundance and renewal that exists within ourselves. It is about wholeness; about finding ourselves again at home in the Garden.
LIFE IN THE MEADOW
Life in the Meadow means more energy for your creative pursuits and for being present to the things in life that matter most. It means a deeper knowing of your desires and your gifts, of the things that you find fulfilling and energizing.
Life in the Meadow means knowing your borders and what assets exist within those borders - so that your time and attention are invested in powerful ways that generate dividends.
Life in the Meadow means having a personal connection to the instinctual energy that fuels all life and creation. It means having more life, more love, and more energy to give to your community and the other people in your life. Life in the Meadow means living close to your Life Story, knowing that the path you’re walking on is heading somewhere, even if you can’t say exactly where.
MUSIC AS MEDICINE…
The healing potential of music has been know for millennia. Be it part of shamanic ritual, religious worship, private practice and listening, sound bathing, or public performance, music continues to provide humans with a means for bringing greater balance to our lives and communities.
MYTHIC WISDOM…
Similarly, the stories that humans have passed down through the ages (including those that come to us through dreams) are treasure troves of wisdom, offering us guidance and insight as we journey through life. The archetypal images present in our dreams, stories, and art can also be found in our experiences in the material world and our interactions with one another. Mythic imagination provides a lens through which we might see meaning and beauty in an otherwise messy and chaotic world.
MEADOWSONG…
The MeadowSong Podcast taps into the healing and transformational potentials of music and myth. Reflecting on everything from current events and nature's rhythms, to folklore and the dreams of listeners, each episode offers a poetic take on our inner and outer experiences alongside improvised piano music offered up as a grounding, inspirational response to the ideas discussed on the show, as well as stories shared by listeners.
ABOUT LEE…
Lee Saville-Iksic is a musician, writer, teacher, and scholar of mythology, anthropology, spirituality, and psychology. His work strives to integrate a poetic view of nature and the cosmos, timeless spiritual wisdom, powerful psychological insights, and the nurturing of harmonious relationships and communities.
Lee’s past projects include Hope In Harmony, a 501(c)3 organization fostering cultural awareness through intercultural music education; the ArtsBound Podcast, a program that focused on vocational mentorship for young performing artists; and the folkgrass band, Lavender Blue. He is also a composer and clinician of choral music, and he serves as Executive Director and Associate Conductor of Pittsburgh Youth Chorus.