Sustainable Mommy

I truly believe that the ability to sing with a group and create beautiful music together is one of the most magical and wonderful things in this world, and that it's one of the ways that we can get closer to God. I love orchestras, don't get me wrong. I admire all of the instrumentalists out there. But singing is something completely different, and I think that it is more inspiring than anything else when pieces are portrayed with passion and feeling. When playing an instrument, there is almost no opportunity to connect with the people around you; you are simply reading the music from the page and occasionally glancing up at the conductor to make sure that you are with the beat. In singing, you can experience something totally ... heavenly.

Example: Harry Pickens has written a song called "They Are Present" for our last concert of the year. It's about angels! There is a saying that angels have difficulty being in enclosed areas, but our singing and praising make it easier for them to be with us. That's part of the reason why cathedrals are so big! Anyway, after an initial "call" to the angels, the song is repetitive, but the melody is so beautiful, and it builds and builds and builds. Anyway, we were having trouble "getting it" (because singing is totally not just about the music and the words - it's about the meanings behind the words and getting them across to people) so Harry turned off the lights and had us sing "Angelis" on four notes - each part on a different one - just over and over. We did this and Harry played his melody, softer at times, then louder at times, and we could all feel each other moving with the music. We all had our eyes closed, yet we all knew exactly what to do. We even held out the last note with no prior notice that that's where the song was going to end.

I've had several of these moments ... mostly with madrigals, which is why I have such fond memories of them, even though I wouldn't be in the group again for anything. I had a few with Centre Singers, too, but Voces Novae is definitely the place to experience these kinds of things because we all have a common goal. It's not just a "class" anymore.

Those moments are pretty much the reason I sing. It's unlike any other feeling out there ... how can you not believe in God when you know music like that can create those meaningful and almost ethereal moments?

Thanks Harry. :o)

PS For those who don't know, Andrew Lloyd Weber is the mentor on Idol tonight!!!