Low Tones

There was a time when I could sing a high G with no effort whatsoever.  In fact, I can recall singing a solo when I was in high school where the very first note was a high G.  Time has gone by and with the years, my voice has lowered.  Today, while I can make myself sing either soprano or alto, I'm happiest in the middle-to-lower range.  The low notes, those low tones have surprising appeal to me.  When I sing them, I sound as if I'm enjoying myself, as opposed to the first soprano notes when I sound as if I'm reacting to something really, really scary.  I've joined our church choir once again and I'm happily sitting in the alto section part of the time, soprano the other part of the time.  Today, we sang during the worship service for the first time this fall.  I came prepared to sing alto, but ended up singing soprano instead.  Learning two musical parts keeps my brain cells on high alert and my voice in greater range, which are good things.  Depending on the piece of music and where my voice is needed on a particular Sunday, like the limbo song, I'll have to see "just how low can I go."

Poor Wayfaring Strangers

My friend Charlene and I made music once again today.  Every few months, we sing an a cappella piece of music at our church.  Normally, we sing something peppy, but this time, we sang "Poor Wayfaring Stranger."  The arrangement of the American folk ballad was simple, yet lovely. The lyrics were soulful and filled with much meaning.  I especially liked the words: "I know dark clouds will gather 'round me; I know my way is rough and steep.  Yet beauteous fields lie just before me...."  Those are words of hope, faith and a knowing of better days ahead.  When the way is difficult, there is always something to which to look forward, something both today and ahead to keep our spirits positive and our hearts light.  In some ways, we're all probably poor wayfaring strangers in this life, but today as Charlene and I sang, I felt in full communion with her and others and had a light heart and deep knowing that the beauteous fields truly did just lie before me.

Three-Part Harmony

In honor of the love theme in February, my good friend Charlene and I decided to sing a musical selection about love during Sunday service at our church.  We chose "The Gift of Love."  Singing with Charlene is always great fun, as well as a bit challenging, because we choose to sing our selections without accompaniment.  Our Saturday morning rehearsals took on a new, fun twist recently when Charlene's musical husband, Rex, lent his full, bass voice to transform our two-part number into three-part harmony. Consequently, at yesterday's Sunday service, our duo turned into a trio.  What a joyful musical experience! Singing is an expression of love and gratitude for me.  I'm grateful to Charlene and Rex for making that musical experience even lovelier.

Fa-La-La

I really love to sing and at this time of year when Christmas music is playing in stores, on the radio, at church and just about anywhere you go, it's nice to be able to hum or sing along with Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Harry Connick, Jr., Steve Lawrence and the gang.  With my cold dragging on for so long, I've not only had a husky speaking voice, my singing voice has been in its basement range at best.  Gratefully, my singing voice is coming back and I've been able to carol and sing and hum along with Bing to my heart's content.  Whether we're great singers or just singers in the shower, isn't it lovely to have a song on your lips and one in your heart?  And what better time to be able to sing joyfully than at Christmas when there are so many great pieces of secular and sacred music?  Whether it's "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" or "O Holy Night," now is the time to sing with gladness and Joy to the World.

Rejoicing

My good friend Charlene and I had an opportunity to sing in church again today.  It was United Methodist Women's Sunday and it had an international theme.  Charlene, who I always, always refer to as the "brains of our singing operation," selected a lively, joyful song for us -- in three languages!  Thankfully, one of them was English!  I got to test my high school Spanish on one verse and learn Zulu for the other.  No matter the language, the song was about rejoicing and that we did.  What I found equally fun was watching the many choirs from around the globe singing our piece of music on You Tube.  Charlene and I used You Tube to help us learn the nuances of our song.  We are but a duet, and a middle-aged, a cappella duet at that.  We certainly sang with gusto today, but nothing like the many choirs of young people, accompanied by myriad instruments in myriad settings on You Tube.  Their music was a treat indeed.  Once again, I was reminded that there are many, many ways to make a joyful noise!

A Joyful Noise

It's been over two years since I last sang, other than the hymns from the pew each Sunday.  But, today, I had the opportunity to make a joyful noise once again.  My friend Charlene selected a piece of music, "Make a Joyful Noise," for us to sing as an a cappella duet at church.  I love to sing with Charlene.  She has a happy, vibrant countenance and it shows in her music.  She is definitely the brains behind our a cappella endeavors.  I just need to show up with my voice.  A professional musician and choral director, Charlene has the knowledge and skill to select just the right music and she often makes recommendations as to how we can maximize each piece.  I bask in the experience of singing with her and learning all that she has to teach and share.  This musical experience was healing for me.  After two years of being consumed with personal illness and the illness and passing of my mom, it all pretty much but silenced the song that was in my heart.  But, today, I knew I was ready to make a joyful noise once again.