Rhythms of Remembrance is an innovative, creative, and resident-centred project at Perley Health. Residents and a Music Therapist (MTA) collaborate to adapt their unique heartbeat recordings to create personalized musical legacies. Each resident can choose to either select a song that holds deep personal meaning within their lives, write an original song, or tell a story. Finished recordings have the sound of the heart steadily beating in the background, while the music they created or selected is played. Residents can add a personalized introduction and/or conclusion to their legacy piece in order to highlight any messages they wish to convey regarding their life, values, and insights. The final musical composition is an audio file that the resident can keep, own, and share as they wish.
Welcome to our growing library of musical legacies made by residents at Perley Health, with their permission to share. Please select a recording below to hear samples of musical legacies that were crafted by Veteran residents at Perley Health.
There is reflective quality in this contemplative piano piece “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven. A duet unfurls between the resident's heartbeat and the piano's lyrical themes. This legacy piece touches on resident's lifelong love of music and acts a keepsake for his family and generations to come.
This recording features a heartbeat and a song from one of our Veteran residents at Perley Health. “We often don't have or don't take the time to sit down and discuss the most important things, so I chose to write a song about the most important thing I could think of… Family”.
“Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind. Memories sweetened through the ages just like wine.” A sincere rendition of a song famously sung by Elvis, in collaboration with his two daughters on Alto and Bari saxophone.
“I don't know where I'm going, but I sure know where I've been”. This touching rock anthem, chosen by one of our Veteran residents, is a high energy piece dedicated to his children. It includes the sounds of the electric guitar as well as a powerful drum rhythm, in harmony with this his heartbeat.
Sharing the untold story of his musical journey through his life and his service in the military. This recording features his harmonica playing, capturing his lively story telling abilities, and an interview with him and his wife on music's continued impact throughout his life.
This legacy project features the song “Before I Met You” by Charlie Pride, and was originally sung by our Veteran resident at Perley Health on the day he was engaged to his wife. The phrase, “that was before I met you” echoes the profound connection that spurred this important event in their lives. Now sung again, and joined with his heartbeat.
“My heartbeat is embraced in this song for you” a song sung by one of our Veterans for his wife. A gifted vocalist, leader, and trailblazer who took the opportunity to sing “My Way”. The piece concludes with a crescendo and is a celebration of his life's accomplishments and visionary leadership.
