"Fly Like a Bird" by Ken Canedo

The choir, and the string/wind from our church, all volunteered to sing, "Fly Like a Bird," at the funeral of my husband's Dad. He walked in our a robbery in progress on his house, and was killed by the robbers. They were never caught.

His death was so sudden. It was a very confusing time. Those couple of weeks are still a blur. At first, my husband was adamant about having the funeral at the local Catholic Church. (My husband's Dad had been Catholic.) I wasn't going to argue. Catholic, it was then. Although, I thought back to my grandmother's funeral at the Catholic Church, and remembered it as being very "cookie cutter." Seriously, it was like: "[Insert name of dead person here]" and then every other part of it was exactly the same as every other funeral I had ever been to.

But, then, my husband changed his mind, and we had the funeral at the Lutheran church, (where I sing in the choir, and where our son goes to preschool.) The only reason why I mention this is picking a different church for the funeral allowed us flexibility in selecting music for the funeral. (Wow, we could select choose songs with words that meant something to us as a family.) Pastor sat down with us to talk about Dad, what he was like, and what music would go along with what kind of man he had been, (a very, very complicated one.)

My very dear friends, John and Kathy, suggested we put together a 'women's choir' (from the regular choir) and sing this original composition from Ken Canedo, "Fly Like a Bird," in addition to the regular psalms.

(We also did three other non-psalm pieces, all religious songs, but stuff you would not get in a cookie-cutter funeral. My 4-year old sang: "Behold, Behold." Dad's favorite song, "Ave Maria," was played on the violin. So beautiful. Everyone was crying. We also sang "Requiem," a song written for the first anniversary of 9/11.)

Kathy wrote the descant, which you hear in the final verse, both with the sopranos singing, and the violins playing.

That final verse is so incredible. The whole song itself was the perfect choice for saying good bye to Dad. The imagery in the lyrics is so uplifting. It was a very healing song. Both my husband and my Mom, (well, my mother-in-law, but she has told me from Day 1 to call her "Mom"), said that as we got to the descant in the final verse, and our voices rose, (you'll hear it clearly), they saw a vision of the eagle rising in the sky, (you will hear this in the lyrics, too.) Along with the eagle rising in the sky, they both saw an image of Dad ascending into heaven. I got goose bumps along my arms during that verse as we were singing. I felt electrified and could not move from my spot. It was a spiritual experience, but in a good way, a healing way.

After the song ends, you hear a member of my husband's family actually groan, but, I think this is a good thing, and not because they did not like the singing. :) (I think it was just a natural release of an expression of grief, which is really what gathering for a funeral is supposed to be about. You can't do much for the person who is already dead, so, therefore, the whole focus should be on healing those who are left behind.)

My deep gratitude to Kathy, for the arrangement, to Vicki, for her incredible violin playing, and to both John and Kathy for playing the guitar on this one. Plus, thank you to Pastor, and the entire choir, and congregation for supporting my husband, my son, and, well, me, during a really sad and confusing time. Your support helped heal the entire Torres clan, (and, well, there are a lot of us, so that means a lot.)

This one goes out to you, Dad, up there in heaven. Thought you may journey far from home, I hope you will never be alone.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Fly
• Like
• Bird
• Ken
• Canedo
• spiritual
• hymns
• church
• choirs
• violin

[ubicaritas75]

This is a lovely rendition of Ken's song. I am blessed to have known Ken when he was a music minister at my parish in California in the 1990s. Little did I know then that he would go on to become one of the Church's preeminent contempory artists.  We played this at our wedding Mass during Communion. My favorite of his is "Alleluia, Give the Glory."

[dianacwolf]

@ubicaritas75 Allelula, Give the Glory- I will have to look that one up! Yes, Fly Like a Bird would be an amazing wedding piece. The words are so perfect!

[jim2beers]

Ken Canedo is such a gift to the church community. Yes, he is Catholic and he lives in Oregon. Our Lutheran church was blessed by his presence recently and he shared many of his songs.  Your choir did a wonderful job with the song.

[dianacwolf]

@jim2beers Thanks for the nice compliment, Jim. We have two wonderfully gifted musicians at our church, John & Kathy, (playing the guitars on this song), who bring lovely, inspirational music like this into our church. I think the comment about him being Catholic is pretty funny. It seems like half the people at our Lutheran church are Catholic, (OK, or, more accurately, started out Catholic and now attend the Lutheran church because they found something there they liked.)

[cutiepie4879]

i went to cathloic school for 8 yrs and i would always complain about how i hated it and blah blah blah and this is my first year of public school and know i see that whole reason of going to cathloic school....and that i treat my dad like shit and i shouldn't...and my dad never gave up on me like half of my friends parents and i'm only 13

[dianacwolf]

Hey CutiePie- If you can appreciate your Dad already at age 13, then you are very mature for a 13 year old. Good luck in public school. I'm sure it is a tough adjustment, but, keep true to yourself, and true to your personal values and beliefs, and you will find your way. Find others who think like you do. Ignore the small-minded ones. You're going to do just fine. - Diana

[ThePie1588]

Thanks for uploading this. I sang it for the first time tonight at choir practice. It definitely is a healing song. I shall share it with others. I especially will post it on my Facebook wall in memory of Steve jobs who just passed on. Blessings and Peace!

[jim2beers]

Diana,

You may find Ken Canedo's facebook informative... He hosts a liturgy and musical review for each Sunday....very insightful and he exposes more spirit filled music that transpires all denominations.

Check out his facebook account and spiritandsong

Blessings,

Jim Tabor

[lkw1078]

that was absolutely beautiful!! im sure your dad is smiling down on you and your family!!

[megatonp]

Ken Canedo is Catholic.

[harrysfan101]

A car crash took her life, she was only 14, i wont go into details because this is to long anyway.

They played this song at her Funeral. I've never cried to much, then, and in these past weeks.

They also played this at another friend of mine who died November 16 of this same year.she was 17

Rest In Peace Lisa, and Reiny <3

[harrysfan101]

I'm so sorry for you loss, and everyone else on here, and their losses. I recently lost my friend, and classmate,We had been in class together from 1-4th grade and then her dad military career had her moved. She moved back to our state but to a differnt city and i only recently found out.

I was to scared that she wouldnt remeber me that i didnt friend her online.

On Halloween night my mom,friend, and I we were talkigna bout her, that morning we found out she had died on hallween.