Slovenia
Slovenia, Slovenia will always be my home
Slovenia, Slovenia
When I am near you, I am never alone
(Slovenia Song from ‘The Vanishing Lake CD)
Shirlie Roden is a Trustee of the British Slovene Society in London, and an unofficial Ambassador for the Republic of Slovenia, where she is well-known for her uplifting concerts, the healing power of her voice, the positive appeal of her music and lyrics, her sound workshops, and also her vision to work alongside and help preserve nature and the environment.
Any country which has the word ‘Love’ in its name has to be really special, and Shirlie has developed a real love affair with Slovenia over the years.
Her very first visit was in 1992, just after the newly-formed Republic had become independent from old Jugoslavia. A group of Slovenes heard Shirlie singing at Gaunts House in Dorset and invited her to their new country. It was a very small beginning, tying in with Shirlie’s new Life Plan to “Go wherever I was asked to go, do whatever I was asked to do and be with whomsoever I was asked to be with” in order to serve with her music. “I had gone through what I can only call a Dark Night of the Soul, and asked myself, what brought me joy when I was a child? I realised, the professional singer had become hardened: it was always a question of how much was I going to be paid for recording sessions and jobs. But what had inspired me when I was a child was singing, just for the pure joy of it. So I made the decision to put singing and joy first, and money second. And the door to Slovenia swung wide open.”
Concert after concert followed over the years, in a variety of ways and places. Initially taking the stage with performer John Christian, Shirlie and John sang their healing brand of music at mental institutions, hospitals, homes for the disabled and schools, raising money for various charities. But the breathtaking beauty and unspoiled nature of the country called to the Native Indian in Shirlie as she performed her first solo concert at the beautiful Sneznik Castle and was inspired to write a whole CD of songs dedicated to Slovenia called ‘The Vanishing Lake’ (after the magical Lake Cerknica). “Slovenia had given me so much”, she recalls. “They accepted me and my voice, just as I am, and took me into their hearts. I wanted to give something back to say ‘thank you’, and also to make the Slovenes aware of the incredible heritage of their countryside and how important it is to preserve the unspoiled beauty for the generations still to come.”
Shirlie’s solo concerts continued, together with her healing sound workshops, organised with tireless dedication by the visionary Vesta Vanell from Ljubljana who was inspired by the sound of this high, pure voice which ‘went through her heart like a laser’ at a concert. Vesta encouraged Shirlie to reconnect with her Irish and Welsh celtic roots with traditional folk songs, and summer tours of baroque churches and old castles became an annual occasion, raising money for church organs and roofs - firstly as ‘Harpsong’ with English harpist Marigold Verity, and continuing today as ‘Angelski Zvoki’ (Angel Sounds) with inspiring Slovene flautist Alenka Zupan.
Shirlie continues to sing everywhere in Slovenia and for every single occasion. From a concert in Sneznik Forest to assist Janez Kandare and friends in the fight to save the ancient beeches of Sneznik, to a concert at Bled alongside Slovene singing star Aleksander Mezek and colleagues to help save the historic Sava Dolinka river, to joining with other Slovene stars in Ljubljana raising money to help rebuild the Alpine Village of Log pod Mangrtom after a vast mudslide, to closing the Unicef Show at the vast Cankarjev Dom with her children’s song ‘Kako Lepo’, to the continued outreach into schools and homes for the physically and mentally disabled, forests, lakes, mountaintops, rivers and old wooden barns, she is there with her guitar and her open heart, singing her own songs, or the traditional Slovene, Welsh, Irish and Scots melodies and celebrating the joy, openness and beauty, not only of this wonderful country, but of Slovenia’s own special brand of Slavic soul.
‘….When I am near you, it feels like the spring to me
When I am near you, the mountain tops sing to me
When I am near you, I am never alone….Slovenia…’
Shirlie in Slovenia
For current concert and workshop details...
To arrange or book your own concert...
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Slovenia - Koncerti/Delavnice
Shirlie is currently organising her own dates in Slovenia. Please email her at enquiries@shirlieroden.com to arrange a workshop, meditation, relaxation or concert.
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© Shirlie Roden, 2005 - 2008.
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