The Mystical Lady In Blue

 
Songs and Lyrics from CD

Listen to samples

Dear Friends,
I began my musical journey growing up in Redondo Beach, California. I studied piano and as fate would have it, I wrote the 1983 #1 Country Song of the Year, Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine. This brought me to the Palomino Club in North Hollywood where I met a cowboy and moved to East (DeBerry), Texas. I went from surfer to Texan.

Living in the country helped me to grow spiritually and listen to the loving voice of God. Two babies later, I founded Kids for Kids and changed from writing tequila songs to writing Christian songs for children. In 1997, after some unexpected events we moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

There I acquired a record deal with Page Records. I produced and recorded 11 CDs of original piano compositions and Christmas music with the intention to "heal the spirit and sooth the soul."

Then in 2005 another unexpected event. My cowboy husband, Dennis, went back to work in the oil business. Little did I realize this move would be a timely, giant step in my spiritual journey. By now I had come to understand that when God moves me somewhere there is usually a music project involved.

When I first arrived in San Angelo, I asked God, "Why am I here?" I had asked the same question  when we moved to Nashville and God told me, "Write music to make people feel better."

If you get quiet, you can hear God's voice. Now, in San Angelo I heard the beautiful, silent voice of God say, "You are here to build a bridge." Later my friend Alicia told me that according to the Mayan calendar I am a "white bridge builder."

Hey Cool! That's what God said! Alicia was my affirmation.

When you learn listen to God's voice, everything becomes important. God speaks to us through thought, people and what some people call "woo woo events."

Three months after moving to San Angelo, I visited Fred and Kay Campbell's Ranch in Paint Rock, Texas with my friend Denise, to look at Indian pictographs. I had never before walked on land that made me feel so light and full of peace. 

As we viewed the ancient paintings, Miss Kay told us about "the Lady in Blue." I was completely enchanted and that night I read everything I could find on Maria de Agreda. I wanted to know about the nun who lived in the 1600's, and miraculously converted thousands of Native Americans without ever leaving her convent in Spain!

I guess that's when the "spiritual committee" showed up. I began having thoughts everyday about telling Maria's story. At first it was going to be a musical tribute and then the vision grew into a full outside theatrical production much like Ramona in Hemet, California. I went to visit my brother Steve in Argentina, and we saw a show that told a story with music, song and dance.

I began to think, that's how I will tell Maria's story! With music! Dialogue would be too limiting. Music opens up the soul and the imagination to anyone listening. I will tell Maria's story with the beautiful, universal, spiritual language of music.

And so the journey began. In my research, I found Marilyn Fedewa who was working on finishing a book on Sor Maria's life and we became friends. It was important to me to be as accurate as possible. Marilyn and I found that we both shared a strong desire to tell her story. She was thrilled to learn of San Angelo and meet Bishop Pfeifer, Denise Barbour, Gus Clemens, Tilly Chandler, Karen McGinnis, Terry Hill and the legend of the bluebonnet told to me by Sandy Sidel.

I believe the same spiritual committee put us all together. (Of course they did). The music evolved. The first time I ever performed the songs was on Sister Mary Grace's birthday at the convent in Christoval. After I sang "The Voice" she nodded and gave me a look I will always remember. A look of "spiritual knowing."

Everytime I'd see the Bishop he'd ask me how The Lady In Blue was coming. When I realized the theatrical production was going to be very involved I went to Bishop Mike and told him I was going to go to Nashville to record the music.

"So far all of this has been in my head," I said. " I need to make a tangible product. I know how to make music. It's what I do. The community theatrical production will grow from there."

The morning before the day I left to record The Lady In Blue CD in Nashville, I began hearing the Voice repeat over and over, "Write about the bluebonnets, write about the bluebonnets, write about the bluebonnets..."

I was looking at a stack of music! "Write another song??" I said out loud.

"Write about the bluebonnets, write about the bluebonnets..."

"OK... but you have to help!" As I sat at the piano I actually looked over my left shoulder and said those words!! To who?? I am not sure but it was real to me.

I turned around and wrote on a pad, "In the great land of Texas in the dawn of the spring."

"Hey, pretty good!" I smiled.

"There's a delicate flower that blankets the plains."

Before my husband had finished his cup of coffee, The Legend of the Bluebonnets was written. It happened so fast I called Dennis into the room. With his coffee in hand, I played and sang my new creation. I should say the new creation because I certainly did not do it alone!

"I wrote this so fast, I don't know if its any good," I said. When I finished the song I turned around and saw big crocodile teas rolling down his face.

"It's good," he said through his tearful, red/bright blue eyes

Producing the CD in Nashville was an amazing experience. Of course Sam Levine on the flute and John Catchings on cello were magical. They were swept up in the divine energy of the music. Donna Kay, sang the voice of the Blessed Mother on the song Mystical City of God. Beautiful! My friend Jerry Webb engineered and played guitar

The piano was recorded at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in downtown Nashville. The room was alive and full of energy. The piano was bought after the church had been wounded in a tornado. We had become friends before when I performed for a dance group led by Diane Ault.

The room felt good and I was able to perform as if I was in a spiritual trans. There were no "punch ins." I played every piece end to end. I was so in the zone!

After recording all of the music I had written for Maria's story I turned to Jerry and said, "Press the red button."

"What's this called?" Jerry asked.

"Let's call it The River," I smiled. "I am going to go to The River with Maria."

I just played. No music. I just played. Four and a half minutes. It is number 10 on the CD. It is what you are listening to now.

And so it is. It seemed the timing to present the music should be when Marilyn's book was fresh off the press. The CD is like a soundtrack to her book. They compliment each other.

Picking June 20th 2009 to begin telling the story together was a "woo woo."We picked it because it was a good weekend for both of us. Later we realized it was going to be Summer Solstice weekend, one of 2 most sacred days at Paint Rock where I first learned the story

Jumano Indians will travel from afar to see the pictographs of their ancestors at paint Rock for the very first time. They will experience Summer Solstice as they did hundreds of years ago. This is truly a divine appointment for all.

After more than 350 years it is time for Sor Maria's story to be told. It is my intention to bring peace to a troubled world through this beautiful project. San Angelo is a beautiful place to connect with God.

"I see The Lady In Blue as a yearly event, a spiritual pilgrimage, to honor the miracle that took place along the Concho River, so long ago. I see the City of San Angelo coming together, welcoming visitors from afar to their unique oasis of a city. I see a simple, beautiful chapel on the Concho River, the only place on earth that produces a pink pearl, where people can experience quiet prayer and meditation. I see a beautiful garden where they can sit as they bask themselves in the ambiance of  peace and solitude in a land known today as West Texas."

The Lady In Blue reminds us, "All things are possible with God."

Speaking of miracles, let me tell you about the time we made it rain 4 out of 4 times in San Angelo. We did it with children who know all things are possible with God. I actually went on TV on August 11th during a drought and told people to bring their umbrellas!

Read about it here. www.childrenforapeacefulworld.com

Bright Blessings all-ways,
Cynthia Jordan
www.cynthiamusic.com