Someone who lights up my brain is soprano Hayley Westenra of New Zealand. Her voice is so pure, so beautiful, so effortless as it lifts with emotion. Though classified as a classical artist, she moves easily from Italian Opera to “Shenandoah” to Irish ballads. But she moves me with her hymns. The less accompaniment, the better. Her voice is the only instrument needed. “Whispering Hope” and “Abide With Me” are among my favorites. But the song she seems to be asked to perform most often is “Amazing Grace.”

As I have written numerous times, another favorite of mine is Celtic Woman of Ireland. These talented women, most of whom were previously affiliated with River Dance, all have angelic voices and perfect pitch. For Christmas last year I received 2 tickets to see CW in Dallas in April. What a tremendous experience that was! (A million thank-yous from both of us!) Some of the original group have left, but their replacements sing beautifully as well. For a while, Hayley sang with CW. I did not get to experience this live, but here is a video clip of them singing together. By the way: DH and I got to see this piece performed live. The drum solos were phenomenal! Hayley is in the gold dress, and my favorite CW, Lisa, is the brunette in the dusty rose dress.

Now that’s real music in my book! My brain is happy.

January 1, 2006

From birth my parents took me to a small church where I was the only baby–at least till my brother, Greg, came along 4 years later. Boy, was I spoiled…er, loved! Everyone wanted to take me home for dinner after church and play with me. Which they regularly did. To this day I think I relate better to those who are older than I am! Anyway, those dear, dear folks tolerated me and loved me.

From the time I was big enough to climb up by myself, I would haul myself up onto the piano bench and “play.” I never beat on the keys; I played my heart out on the big piano on the platform until time for the church service to start–Sunday morning and night and Wednesday night. Someone would come tell me it was time to start, and I would slip down off the bench and go sit in my mother’s lap. How precious those people are to me for never telling me to stop!

As I grew, I would stand in my father’s shoe repair shop next to the huge finishing machine, listening to the sound frequency. I would listen intently till I “had ” it, then I would hum the exact pitch. I would change my pitch just a little to be sharp or flat and listened to the resulting waves of harmonics underneath the tone. I learned that when I had the pitch “right on”, the sound was amazing. These were my first experiences with perfect pitch, a precious gift from God. To have it has been marvellous.

Among my fondest memories is playing “match pitches” with my children and young grandchildren. It’s amazing how quickly they pick up on the purpose of the game as babies. It doesn’t take long for them to start tricking me by changing pitches themselves and making ME catch up while they giggle gleefully! They love to match my pitch, then slide up the scale to a pitch impossible to duplicate by anyone over the age of 18 months.

I don’t know how old I was when I learned to play by ear and to chord, but it was way before I could read. Music has been a big part of my life from before I had the ability to remember. I started piano lessons when I was in 2nd grade and took lessons through graduate school. I played the piano for hours every day because I loved it so much. During my teenage years, music was responsible for my sanity, though I can’t vouch for that of my parents. When I was angry (which was often), I would pound the daylights out of Rachmaninoff. Russian music was great for relieving aggression!

I definitely had “The Gift”, and I thank God for that.

BEAUTIFUL

Snowman sittin’ in the sun doesn’t have time to waste.
He had a little bit too much fun
Now his head’s erased.
Back in the house, family of three
Two doin’ the laundry and one in the nursery.

We brought a brand new baby back from Bangladesh.
Thought we’d name her Emily.
She’s beautiful, beautiful.

Yes, sir, head’s erased, brain’s a bowl of jelly.
Hasn’t hurt his sense of taste
Judging from his belly.
But back in the house, family of four now;
Two doin’ the laundry and two on the kitchen floor.

We brought a brand new baby back from mainland China;
Sailed across the China Sea.
She’s beautiful, beautiful.

Go-kart sittin’ in the shade
You don’t need a ticket to ride.
It’s summertime, summertime.
Slip down a water slide
Little kid dancin’ in the grass;
Legs like rubber band.
It’s summertime, summertime.
There’s a line at the candy stand.
Keep an eye on them children,
Eye on them children in the pool.
You better keep an eye on them children,
Eye on them children in the pool.

We brought a brand new baby back from Kosovo.
That was nearly seven years ago.
He cried all night, could not sleep,
His eyes were bright, dark and deep;
Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful.

Listen to the soundbite.