Monday, September 25, 2006
Souls in Harmony
The beauty of music is its ability to create a community among strangers. It has a way of connecting souls. It forms invisible bonds among people going through the same experience. It puts into words and melodies a spectrum of emotions that most of us cannot even try to define.
Music is more than a string of notes put together. Music is a testament of our souls' need for companionship and for empathy. Good music has the ability to speak to your soul and to speak for your soul. Music simply is.
To be able to hear music is magical. To be able to feel music is wonderful. To be able to sing music is a gift.
I was blessed with such a gift. Though I am not as good as my sister, I was still good enough to be accepted to sing for the Ateneo College Ministry Group (ACMG) -- our university's resident singers for spiritual occassions. Hehe. :)
Being part of the choir was not easy. It required time. It demanded practice. Sometimes, it asked me to spend some money. There were days my vocal chords were so strained I was afraid to speak. :) Yet, in every practice, in every performance, in every note sang -- individual voices became so intertwined that it resulted into a melodious harmony of souls.
Needless to say, irreplaceable moments were experienced. How can I forget the need to block off every Mondays and Wednesdays between 16:30-18:00 so I can attend practices? Or the two long nights we needed to spend travelling from house to house to sing Christmas carols? Who among us can forget the instant guitar playing and singing sessions in our crammed office? What about all the school holidays spent on the chapel to practice dance movements (that should never have happened) for our year-end concerts? :)
What made being part of this group even more special was how we became part of other people's experiences of faith. In between all the masses we sung for, the weddings, the funerals and the small ocassions here and there, were prayers amplified and emotions felt.
Fortunately (or not), my singing career is over. :) These days my singing voice is heard only in the shower (though my ex-house mates claimed I was just shouting in the morning) or in karaoke bars. But, if there is one thing I always thank God for, it's music. Without it, my life would be boring and sad.
To my choirmates: Toby, Doodle, Mic, Tatot, Roy, Emyr, Tintin, Jenna, MJ, Angela, Mhir, Dom, Mia, Donna, Bryan, Jason, Garyn, Sherlyn, She, Marty, Diana, Paolo -- Ad Majoriem Dei Gloriam. :)
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Thanks Aine for the nice comments. And to Pak, yeah, maybe one day I will be rich. :) To my team, thanks for the Boomi. :)
5 comments:
Dear Erica,
finally I made it to post a comment! I am reading your blog every single day since I first discovered it - and there is one simple reason for it: The way you write about people and things that matter to you is just heartwarming. I wish there where more people like you who look at others with a feeling of warmth, love and friendliness because this can truely change things. It is inspiring.
Love from your friend,
Lara
PS: I share your feelings about music and singing - I also sang in a choir and a band. One more thing in common, who would have thought that? :-)
Hey Erica.
I know the feeling of being a part of a choir. It's very interesting experience.
I haven't been part of choir since I was 20 years old, but I still try my best to let other people enjoy my talent ;) cough cough!!
I love reading your blog, so keep up the good work. I visit you everyday :)
Hello Lara and Thordis,
Thanks for the comments. You really made me happy today. :)
Anyway, today I was listening to an old ABBA song from Mamma Mia called Thank you for the music. Fit my mood today. :) Hehe. I want to sing again. Let us arrange karaoke sometime. :-P
Hugs,
Erica
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hey... i read your blog.. im Rey Sanchez, ACMG Bass Section head. why did you stop singing? why did you not join BP with kuya Roy, who is now the ACMG moderator and or Hangad with Kuya toby? im sorry, im just curius. im in the stage of my life that since i have a year till graduation, im afraid that my singing will end with my college life...
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