How can I keep from singing?
I sang this weekend as part of a 2-day Gospel music workshop with Tony Backhouse. I've been dealing with chest and head congestion ever since I got back from Paris this spring, pouring ridiculous amounts of antibiotics into my system, plus chest and head x-rays in an attempt to figure out what's been going on with my body; as a result, I've been unable to breathe without breaking into severe coughing fits, to say nothing of singing. So when the opportunity presented itself, I eventually decided to go and give it a try, thanks to some encouragement/nudging from my lovely lady.
It was incredible, almost 8 hours of ensemble singing over two days, something I haven't done in any significant capacity for years. All songs were taught by rote - no sheet music of any kind - and other exercises included everybody in a circle, closing their eyes and singing a line of music sung to us by the instructor, allowing us to play with it however we wished. The result could be best defined as transcendent; I can't remember the last time I felt so small and so big at the same time, aware both of what I and the other singers were doing, guiding and being guided by each others' contributions.
I felt as though I could break out in a run and never get tired again. The songs are still echoing in my head. I need more songs and more singing in my life. It's what makes living worthwhile.
Originally posted at my Dreamwidth blog. Sorry, LJ.
It was incredible, almost 8 hours of ensemble singing over two days, something I haven't done in any significant capacity for years. All songs were taught by rote - no sheet music of any kind - and other exercises included everybody in a circle, closing their eyes and singing a line of music sung to us by the instructor, allowing us to play with it however we wished. The result could be best defined as transcendent; I can't remember the last time I felt so small and so big at the same time, aware both of what I and the other singers were doing, guiding and being guided by each others' contributions.
I felt as though I could break out in a run and never get tired again. The songs are still echoing in my head. I need more songs and more singing in my life. It's what makes living worthwhile.
Originally posted at my Dreamwidth blog. Sorry, LJ.