This album is my way of helping people gain an awareness of the Native American flute as a legitimate instrument of musical expression, and presenting a performance as true to traditional technique and presentation as I can. The songs in this collection are dear to me and each represents a story of its own. The process of recording these songs wove another story into the complete collection - so this has become a work in the traditional sense.

There are veteran songs on this album because we can never forget the sacrifice made on our behalf by men and women who have served in the military. There are childrens' songs as well which I offer freely to any parent needing to comfort or celebrate with their children. And, there are songs for many other types of relations as well.

I offer my apologies to any family whose songs I may have used by accident. I am humbled and grateful for the loving support of my family and friends throughout the creation of this album. My thanks to my son for his face on the album conver, and to my wife for inspiring the album title, "Relations". I gift to all of our children, and in honor of our veterans, I share this musical tradition of flute music...the songs of our Relations.

- Lynn Ragan