Music Library

It is a grand tradition in Irish and Scottish pubs for musicians to join jam sessions which break up only when the sun peeks over the hayfields. That kind of amazing musical collaboration involves hundreds of songs over dozens of hours. Jordan McConnell: “We would be in the middle of a piece of music and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Something’s about to change, but I’ve no idea what’s coming up.’ Then my hand goes to where it needs to be and my mind just follows along.”

Original music inspired by and for meditation, improvised by artist and musician Michael Wilding. Michael plays a wide range of instruments including saxophone, flute, didgeridoo and drums. From the Red Thread Sunday Zen session with guest host Tess Beasley, recorded March 26, 2023.

Sickness and medicine relate to listening—listening very intently and deeply to the song, the voices of the moment we are in. Music from Michael Wilding from a Sunday Zen session with John Tarrant & Friends recorded March 5, 2023.

A gorgeous lilting ballad, “Now Westlin’ Winds,” sung a cappella by Jordan McConnell, of all things red thread and the passions of fall: hunters shooting, wild birds taking flight, and the field of love. The ballad is also known as “Song composed in August,” a Robert Burns song-poem, written around 1783. Recorded on October 7th, 2022 in Fall Sesshin.

Michael Wilding weaves a magical solo flute improvisation for the Great Kalpa Fire session from Sunday, September 18, 2022. 5 minutes.

Michael Wilding plays music for meditation, riffing on the Summertime theme. Recorded during the September 4, 2022 Sunday Session with John Tarrant.

Michael Wilding’s solo flute during John Tarrant’s Sunday Talk: The Great Way Is Not Difficult; It Just Avoids Picking & Choosing. Recorded on June 26, 2022 in the Online Temple.

Jordan McConnell on guitar. Music for meditation, recorded June 5, 2022. 7 minutes.

Michael plays a solo improvisation during John Tarrant’s Sunday meditation. Recorded June 5, 2022. 9 minutes.

Michael Wilding’s improv on flute, recorded Sunday, May 2022, during John Tarrant’s What Is This? Sunday Session. 5 minutes.

Meditation on the koan, What Is Jiashan’s State of Mind, is accompanied by Jordan McConnell’s musical improvisation on guitar. Recorded on May 1, 2022, during John Tarrant’s Zen Is Poetry Sunday Talk.

Michael Wilding plays an evocative saxophone solo for John Tarrant’s Sunday meditation: A Morning of Amnesty. April 17, 2022.

Michael Wilding’s musical solos during a meditation for getting lost. Recorded during John Tarrant’s Sunday Talk on March 13, 2022.

Jordan McConnell plays a guitar solo for exploring the lost cities during John Tarrant’s Sunday Talk on March 20, 2022.

Amanda Boughton sings and accompanies herself on ukelele. Recorded February 4th 2022, at Winter Sesshin.

Amanda Boughton sings and accompanies herself on the ukelele. Recorded at Fall Sesshin. February 2022.

Michael Wilding adds his original music on saxophone to John Tarrant’s meditation session. As recorded live on Sunday March 6, 2022. 6 minutes.

Michael Wilding plays an exquisite solo during meditation. From John Tarrant’s Sunday session, recorded on February 20, 2022.

Jordan McConnell on guitar and singing the 10-verse chant to the compassionate one: Kanzeon, or Guanyin. Recorded on March 6, 2022.

Solo saxophone music for meditation from Michael Wilding. From John Tarrant’s Sunday session, recorded February 20, 2022.

Jordan McConnell sings the Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani to ward off danger and to dispel demons the nine times required for its magic to take hold. Recorded February 27, 2022. Introduced by John Tarrant.

Jordan McConnell plays the Four Boundless Vows on a new guitar—or maybe an old one? It has a distinctive sound worth a listen. Recorded December 5th, 2021. 3 minutes.

Where do songs come from? “Maybe nowhere! They are just here, waiting for us to get out of the way and let them in.” Jordan McConnell and Michael Wilding converse about music, play riffs in response to each others’ inspirations, and then share their histories: how they found meditation and music, and how one practice influences the other. Hosted by Jon Joseph Roshi on November 29, 2021.

Michael Wilding’s transportive original composition, an interlude for meditation, on flute. As recorded September 19, 2021.

A beautiful version of the 4 Boundless Vows for 2 harmonizing voices. It blooms! Thanks to Rose Joseph & her friend Delfine. As recorded during Jon Joseph’s Monday evening talk on September 20th, 2021.

Special Program on the 4 Boundless Vows. Musician Jordan McConnell’s amazing sung version. Excerpt from the Sunday session recorded August 1, 2021.

Music during meditation: Michael Wilding plays an original composition on flute. Recorded during Summer Sesshin.

Ryan McCoy channels the Reverend Gary Davis as he sings this blues standard during meditation at Summer Sesshin.

Meditation – Music from Michael Wilding followed by a brief koan meditation with Allison Atwill. As recorded May 30, 2021.

Musician and new dad, Ryan McCoy, sings the Four Boundless Vows on Father’s Day. June 19, 2021.