The Voice

 

Dear blog,

 

What to say?

I’ve wanted to say so many things. There’s been so many beautiful things. Rainbows, uncanny walls of them, tablecloths of them. Events that seem so very curious, I’m not sure how to describe them.

That I wonder what to write, and how? So much so that I search for words.

And yet….

I guess sharing a little, and perhaps just writing the marrow, instead of getting bogged in details, is what I will do, for now, because it is the essence that is beautiful.

The aroma of truth that is beautiful.

 I’ve thought about sharing the video of our spring Program.

Then I talk myself out of it, because I know it’s just a form. And going back feels almost like collecting butterfly wings.

When the nows are right here to be found.

I’ve always felt uncomfortable watching myself in videos.

Plus, this video does not show you the bits that made up this choir. The ups, and downs. The mini dramas, and politics, and also the beautiful heart energy that came in at times.

Moments of encouragement, and also seeing moments.

The very humanness of this choir, in a small town.  And the whole program was made up of mini moments, of women.

A collaborative work. Where something bubbled through the cracks, not because of force, or pushing.

But because a soft energy seeped in, and sculpted things, little by little. A very allowing energy. And it seemed that all of us women seemed for a moment, softer.

Little changes.

Soft changes.

Like us women wearing dresses, probably the first time since I’ve been in blue notes, and it’s been a while.

Being able to write words, that were able to be read.

Words that were allowed.

That was beautiful.

Encouraging.

A group of women.

Sometimes so in the space of love, it was beautiful.

And sometime, so in the space of needing love, that it was challenging.

And a Choir director, leading, though with great arthritis in her hips, and an ill husband.

And so, if you decide to listen to this, take into account, that behind what manifests, perfect, or imperfect, loud or soft, on key, or off---in-between all form lies the thread.

The voice---The unheard bits you cannot see, or taste, or touch. Many moments of surrender.

Moments of unfolding, when one could run, or be small.

Moments of expansion for all of us, in our own ways.

Moments experienced on the inside of it all. One soul’s lens at a time. One person’s experience at time.

A point of light. A sound.

 So whether you're singing in the choir, or in the audience, or watching a video, or listening to the sound of your own heart, or sitting in the stillness of your own sacred center, sometimes, in golden moments, you get a glimpse of the sparkling truth, a ray that finds its way to the surface, and is sometimes seen, and even if was just for a moment.

Seen.

Or not.

It is there.

Always.

This third thing, waiting to be invited.

It can be here, with you.

Now.

As you sing together with the voice. 

Below is something I wrote after the program, because it was something I wanted to say there... 

So I'm saying it here. Though, I've rewritten it some since then.

And below that, is the script for the Voice, so you know what was said because sometimes it's hard to tell what was said from the video.

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I forgot to include the voice of our teachers in or original script.

And Shirley has been my teacher.

And I would like to say ONEGAI SHIMASU, thank you to her.

And to her mother, and her teacher.

And to her mother. 

And to my mother.

To all mothers, and teachers, and choir directors, of all kinds, to fathers, and songs, daughters, and brothers.

My Teachers.

To you, and to all the those in the audience, and the choir members behind me.

And my beautiful soul sister, Bessie, who has sung with me in all kinds of weather.

Thank you.

You have all been my teachers, and coaches.

Seen, or unseen. Thank you for being there for me.

Supporting me. Loving me.

Teaching me. 

Thank you.

We have all taught one another something, all touched each others lives in some way. All been each other coaches and helpers along this beautiful journey of life. We have all covered each other and helped each other, in some way.

We have all helped each other to see the truth, about life, and each other in some way.

All helped each other to grow.

I would like you to note, that the beautiful thing Shirley just did for us only a little while ago, in playing the star spangled banner, as we all stood up, and looked at the flag, behind her.

With our hands covering our hearts.

“Oh say, can you see?”

By the dawns early light.

Did you see?

A person who’s mother, and people were incarcerated for not being American enough.

Has stood before you, and said, with her beautiful heart, and harp, and fingers.

Do you not see?

My hand over this harp with 13 original strings.

America started out with 13 original colonies.

I wonder if anyone listening felt a bit of awe, and wonder, and then listening felt a twinge of guilt, or shame?

And how beautiful this all is.

If we looked.

We, our hearts all are the same.

Listen.

Hear the music.

One anthem.

One harp.

One heart.

And so, my heart says. Yes. Stand. And cover your harp, your heart. Strum the strings.

Play the hearts national anthem. Learn from your teachers---they are all around you. Teaching you, how to cover your hearts.

Stand before the flag of unity.

Cover love.  And love the cover.

Love.

That is the only thing worth covering.

And you are all that. 

Long may our hearts wave.

 Stand in respect to those who show you your hearts, harps song.

See those who are are willing to play your heart's national anthem despite all that has happened.

Forgive those who held you unjustly.

Love them.

Yes.

I am grateful for teachers that teach us how to be.

And to give love always.

See how beautiful it is to hold up Truth, and love, and unity as their flag.

Long may it wave.

 

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This is the text for the Voice. Bess gave me some good ideas, and word thoughts. So this is a collaboration. I let the choir director rearrange it from the original text a bit. So I've tried to piece together what it changed to. So if it's off from the video, that's probably why.

The Voice 2024 spring Concert

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1. The Voice.

2. Lineage.

 

Narrator.

The Voice

If you listen, you can hear it.

It is here, with us, always.

The thread of music, the word, that was at the very beginning.

The line of poetry that comes on the radio at the exact right moment, when you need it.

The voice of hope that sings out even in the darkest moments. The voice that whispers truth. The voice of our grandmothers.

The voice of our history, the voice of our hearts, the voice of our friends, and those we lean on in times of sorrow, or joy.

 Listen, and you will hear it !

 

3. They call The wind Mariah.

4. Special number (Lean on me) Loreen Olivia, Sue, Karen, Sheryl, Esther)

 

 Narrator.

The voice of quiet courage, and joy, even when circumstances look grim. It speaks of our homeland, of heroes, of flags, and of courage, the fabric of truth that sewed our nation together. The voice, it tells of beautiful mornings, and meadows we once knew and sometimes remember. It sings to us, and tells us that us that happiness is here, now.

5. The Star Spangled Banner---Koto instrumental. (Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto)

6. Oklahoma.

 

Narrator.

The voice calls still.

Invisible to some.

But heard when we pause, and spend time with real things.

The voice of nature, and of rain, and sun, and of wind. The voice found in the stars, as you stand alone under the sky's umbrella. You can hear it in the seasons, in the sound of silence of winter. Its truth echoes out, calling us to let the sunshine in, even in darkness, when there is no sound. Its voice calls to us all in all ages, and in all stages.

7. Aquarius--let the sunshine in

8. Sound of Silence (special number)

9. Singin' in the rain.

 

 

Narrator

The voice.

Can you hear it? Heard in the jungle's of our own lives. It is the voice of peace. It is the voice of your mother, the strength of your father. It is found in the sound of a harp, the wings of a butterfly, the bells of a wind chime. It lights up your senses.

10. Annie's Song (Lynnette, and Doug Jenkins)

11. Koto number---Kokeshi Ningyo – Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto, Brian Wong Muramoto, and Stephanie Skeem.

Narrator.

The voice is heard beyond the gossip of loud tongues. It tells of beautiful mornings, and meadows, we once knew, and sometimes remember. It beckons us to join in choir, no matter how we sound. To have courage to sing.

12. All God's creatures got a place in the choir.

13. The lions sleeps tonight.

14. Don't worry, be happy (Special number)

15. Gossip Gossip.

Narrator.

The voice.

The breath.

A word. A space. The Yah-weh--the in-breath, and out-breath. The sound of life.

The sound of unity that ties us all together as we sing for you. The sacred space where my soul can speak to yours. The fire behind all creation. It is the presence of the beloved.

16. Pie Jesu. Bessie And Stephanie

 

Narrator.

The voices of those who once sang with us in Blue Notes, but are now singing with us in spirit. Memories of the past.

We sing these songs, that, as you listen, you will hear that voice.

The presence lingering even after the stage is empty, and everyone has gone home.

The call, pulling your heart ever closer to your soul.

The invisible note.

The sound of you.

The beat of your own heart telling you what path to choose.

The voice that leads us all home, back to our hearts, to our original homeland. To that original sound.

For without this voice, we are all groping in the dark.

Searching.

 

18. Blue notes of Harmony.

19. Memories.---Bellanova

 

Narrator.

But if we are still, we can hear the sound of silence, and of sound, and of our hearts and spirits, leading us note by note, to a place where all voices will one day sing together in unity.

Thank you for taking time out of your day, to come and listen to our voices. We invite you, with heartfelt appreciation, to join your voices with ours in singing Edelweiss when Julia turns to cue you.

May we all bloom and grow.

Together!

 

15. Edelweiss.