VOICE NOTES: A FOLK DIVA’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY Number 22
Sing For Joy of Spirit!
Number 22, March 1, 2022
Sing for Joy of Spirit
The idea of choosing folk repertoire that touches on spirituality has come to my attention recently, and I want to address it as a discussion topic for all of you who are choosing material that speaks to you.
Many times, and in many eras in our culture, there have been audiences who will not welcome songs that include a spiritual or religious component. Reasonably enough, there are folks who find these elements and topics controversial, uncomfortable or even upsetting. We can all understand, I think, that the role of religion in our history has a complicated past, and not everyone is comfortable with art works that reference religious subjects, or even spirituality in general.
However, I think we can also agree that there are many facets of the human experience that cross that natural bridge to the spiritual “platform,” if you will. I believe it is natural for spirituality to infuse art works which so often contain inherent emotional elements. I believe also that we as artists should keep moving toward inquiry and personal revelation in our work. In my singing, I see and feel clearly, and I think you can also, that music opens hearts, and thus the hearts of those who hear us are opened to meaningful and significant expressions, some of which can definitely feel spiritual.
Whether you ascribe to a formal religious structure or not, there are songs that will speak to you which include the mention of a higher power or similar entity. These songs can have inspiration for you personally and be inspirational for others. In general, songs reflect facets of the human condition – we sing about overcoming hardships, finding (and losing) love, and so on. And for you (and others), these journeys can feel as if they spring from a spiritual source. To me, this is a natural process, as stated above. I believe that the spiritual nature of our lives should be felt and shared in all our songs, whether we perform them for others or not. The inner connection between humans and their artistic expressions has its own integrity, and power.
In my own life, the presence of the spiritual in song has often been profound. During a time of deep sadness and loss, I was pulled back into singing when I had been away from it for a time. When the pain of that time was almost too much to bear, a song erupted in me, unplanned, that I had learned from Jean Ritchie’s collection, “Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow.” Though the song does not mention a religious figure or deity by name or specific inference, the singing of it, for me on that day, was a profoundly spiritual experience that served to heal. The subject was the survival of the soul, and not about a formal tradition. This kind of healing through art is open to all who sing. So, I invite you to examine your own spiritual nature in the singing of your songs and allow it to live as it will in you. Then when you share it, the experience of understanding the soul’s higher power will be powerful and healing for you.
Interesting Book on Music: “Amplified – Unleash Your Potential Through the Power of Music” by Frank Fitzpatrick
I discovered this great book a few months ago when my musical partner, Fred Sanders, passed it on to me, and I want to recommend it to you. The book description reads:
“Amplified offers a fresh, innovative way to relate to and experience music. This book will help you unleash the power of music in your everyday life – to awaken creativity, improve your wellbeing, deepen relationships and amplify your true potential. Frank provides us with a time-tested musical path to greater health and happiness.”
Video of the Week: Susie and the New Folk Ensemble Live with “White Swan”
Here is our barn-burner show-ender, “White Swan” live in concert from a couple of years ago. Enjoy this terrific opus from our former composer-in-chief, Rob Carlson, featuring Mark Indictor on lightning bolt fiddle!
See you next time for all things singing for Folk and Americana styles!
Susie
PS: Get in touch with me at newfolkfusion@gmail.com about taking voice lessons on Zoom!
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Award-winning recording artist, Broadway singer, journalist, educator and critically-acclaimed powerhouse vocalist, Susie Glaze has been called “one of the most beautiful voices in bluegrass and folk music today” by Roz Larman of KPFK’s Folk Scene. LA Weekly voted her ensemble Best New Folk in their Best of LA Weekly for 2019, calling Susie “an incomparable vocalist.” “A flat out superb vocalist… Glaze delivers warm, amber-toned vocals that explore the psychic depth of a lyric with deft acuity and technical perfection.” As an educator, Susie has lectured at USC Thornton School of Music and Cal State Northridge on “Balladry to Bluegrass,” illuminating the historical path of ancient folk forms in the United Kingdom to the United States via immigration into the mountains of Appalachia. Susie has taught workshops since 2018 at California music camps RiverTunes and Vocáli Voice Camp. She is a current specialist in performance and historian on the work of American folk music icon, Jean Ritchie. Susie now offers private voice coaching online via the Zoom platform. Visit Susie’s Website HERE
VOICE NOTES: A FOLK DIVA’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY Number 22
Sing For Joy of Spirit!