Such a lovely piece of writing, Sofia. It inspires me--not to sing, because I'm terrible at it, but to be myself, in writing and in the rest of life, too. Thank you.
Oh, Sofia, I loved this piece. Singing brings joy to the singer and the listener. I had also missed singing for many years and started again in my 60s in two 'ethnic choirs' (I live in Australia and we sing in diaspora community languages, one sings in various Italian dialects and the other sings in Latvian.) Being groups, our own 'voice' does need to blend, but I still see the correlation between singing and writing as creative pursuits. Both involve doing the work to improve in certain areas, giving kudos for a job well done, authenticity. You don't own a choral piece like you do a solo effort, but as a team it is brilliant to create a sound that uplifts or simply entertains. Keep singing out, sister!
Mary Louise, I love your choral singing in community languages - it must give you such a sense of the unity of humanity! This term I have enrolled in a classical singing workshop that's proving both challenging and rewarding. Thank you for reading and engaging with the piece!
Love the reminder to be ourselves and true to ourselves, instead of the judgement of others.
This part - "The singing voice is the only musical instrument one carries at all times from birth until death, housed in and protected by the case of the body, tuned into everything that happens."
really reasonated with me because my Dad has dementia, which has affected his speech to the point we struggle to understand him. However, he still loves to sing and joining in with him is keeping us connected.
Hello Donna. Thank you for reading and engaging with this piece. I am glad it resonated with you. In another uncanny instance of synchronicity, I read your comment while I was working on two memory fragments about exactly the same topic: how my father and I used to sing and play music together in my teenage and how later when he lost his 'language' the music was still there. I found a voice file where he joins in my singing - and what a beautiful space this was! I wish you more beautiful times with him. XXX
Sofia, this resonates with me so much! Recently, I tried sculpting clay for the first time in an attempt to move past a block I had with illustration (which feels similar to writer’s block). It worked!
I got the idea from David Bowie. He used to paint to get unstuck when he was having trouble writing songs. So, we’re in good company!
Thank you for reading, Jo. I love your connection too between clay sculpting and illustration: definitely something to do with 'giving shape'. Yes, we are definitely in good company! I wonder whether doing some patchwork may help with the stitching together of the memoir fragments. Now there's an idea...
I really enjoyed this piece, and like the connection you make between your singing and writing voices: both seem to involve authority (in the wider sense) ie confidence, authenticity and ownership.
Sofia this is incredible - thank you so much for your inspiration - would so love to read an entire memoir about this linkage the search for voice through song 🙏
Such a lovely piece of writing, Sofia. It inspires me--not to sing, because I'm terrible at it, but to be myself, in writing and in the rest of life, too. Thank you.
Dear Lillian, thank you for engaging with this piece, and really pleased it is meaningful to you!
Oh, Sofia, I loved this piece. Singing brings joy to the singer and the listener. I had also missed singing for many years and started again in my 60s in two 'ethnic choirs' (I live in Australia and we sing in diaspora community languages, one sings in various Italian dialects and the other sings in Latvian.) Being groups, our own 'voice' does need to blend, but I still see the correlation between singing and writing as creative pursuits. Both involve doing the work to improve in certain areas, giving kudos for a job well done, authenticity. You don't own a choral piece like you do a solo effort, but as a team it is brilliant to create a sound that uplifts or simply entertains. Keep singing out, sister!
Mary Louise, I love your choral singing in community languages - it must give you such a sense of the unity of humanity! This term I have enrolled in a classical singing workshop that's proving both challenging and rewarding. Thank you for reading and engaging with the piece!
Love the reminder to be ourselves and true to ourselves, instead of the judgement of others.
This part - "The singing voice is the only musical instrument one carries at all times from birth until death, housed in and protected by the case of the body, tuned into everything that happens."
really reasonated with me because my Dad has dementia, which has affected his speech to the point we struggle to understand him. However, he still loves to sing and joining in with him is keeping us connected.
Hello Donna. Thank you for reading and engaging with this piece. I am glad it resonated with you. In another uncanny instance of synchronicity, I read your comment while I was working on two memory fragments about exactly the same topic: how my father and I used to sing and play music together in my teenage and how later when he lost his 'language' the music was still there. I found a voice file where he joins in my singing - and what a beautiful space this was! I wish you more beautiful times with him. XXX
Sofia, this resonates with me so much! Recently, I tried sculpting clay for the first time in an attempt to move past a block I had with illustration (which feels similar to writer’s block). It worked!
I got the idea from David Bowie. He used to paint to get unstuck when he was having trouble writing songs. So, we’re in good company!
Thank you for reading, Jo. I love your connection too between clay sculpting and illustration: definitely something to do with 'giving shape'. Yes, we are definitely in good company! I wonder whether doing some patchwork may help with the stitching together of the memoir fragments. Now there's an idea...
It’s poetic, and it might do the trick! ♥️
I really enjoyed this piece, and like the connection you make between your singing and writing voices: both seem to involve authority (in the wider sense) ie confidence, authenticity and ownership.
Thank you for reading, Heather. There seems to be a closer connection than I would have thought.
Love this Sofia.
Thank you, Scott! It means a lot to me that you've read it.
Sofia this is incredible - thank you so much for your inspiration - would so love to read an entire memoir about this linkage the search for voice through song 🙏
Thank you for reading, Emily, and for your encouraging reaction! I'd love to write it first - I hope to complete a full draft by the end of the year.