I was a folk singer after I stopped being a church singer. I've been pondering that the last few days. It is somehow woven into the thoughts I gathered for an interfaith event that I participated in this week.
Back in the day, when I was singing where anyone could hear me, I was never the lead singer. I was always the support or harmony person. Truth be told, in most cases when I’m singing today, even if it is at home or in my vehicle driving down the road, I hear the main melody, but I’m also hearing something harmonious and that is where my voice goes. Often, I can’t sing the melody if I try…..but I can find a harmony, and I have a palpable feeling when I know all is vibrationally aligned.
By definition: Melody is the main musical line that carries the piece. Harmony is the accompaniment that enriches and helps define the music. They both work together to create satisfying listening experiences.
In my offering for the interfaith gathering I began with these words:
“Let us be united by that which is indisputable.”
I spoke about the elements of Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and the new moon we were all standing under. And by all…..I mean witnessing the new moon is indisputably planetary. In that moment, it seemed to me that the only indisputable representation of unity expressed for our witnessing and learning was through Nature.
Nature is offering the true unifying melody line….the main line.
So, if we talk about unity and we think about music and those great church hymns many of us have been raised on or even led the singing of, we need to understand that even the most beautiful chorus may not be the pathway to greater unity because the words take us to disputable beliefs. And while the beautiful blending of notes and rhythm and rhyming of lyrics may draw new seekers in….intoxicating the spirits, they only serve the purpose of expanding groups of differing beliefs.
In many ways, I’ve returned to being a Church singer and I’m in fine company as we hold open the doors to Nature’s sacred spaces where the music comes from or speaks of the Earth, Herself.
There was beautiful music shared at the interfaith gathering. I was deeply inspired, as this piece took me to the place of curiosity where true unity could be explored. I did not understand the lyrics until later, but somehow, my spirit knew.
(The included video is not from the event)
Alma Llanera ("Soul of the Plains") is a Venezuelan song, a joropo, created by Venezuelan musicians Pedro Elías Gutiérrez (composer) and Rafael Bolívar Coronado (lyricist)
Lyrics and translation to English below.
Yo nací en esta ribera
del Arauca vibrador,
soy hermano de la espuma,
de las garzas, de las rosas,
soy hermana de la espuma,
de las garzas, de las rosas
y del sol, y del sol.
Me arrulló la viva Diana
de la brisa en el palmar,
y por eso tengo el alma
como el alma primorosa,
y por eso tengo el alma
como el alma primorosa
del cristal, del cristal.
Amo, lloro, canto, sueño
con claveles de pasión,
con claveles de pasión.
Amo, lloro, canto, sueño
para ornar las rubias crines
del potro de mi amador.
Yo nací en esta ribera
del Arauca vibrador,
soy hermana de la espuma,
de las garzas, de las rosas
y del sol.
_______
I was born in this bank
of the vibrating Arauca River,
I am sister of its foam,
of the herons, of the roses,
I am sister of its foam,
of the herons, of the roses
and the sun, and the sun.
I was lulled by the vivid reveille
of the breeze in the palm grove,
and so I have the soul
like the exquisite soul,
and so I have the soul
like the exquisite soul
of the crystal, of the crystal.
I love, I weep, I sing, I dream
with carnations of passion,
with carnations of passion.
I love, I weep, I sing, I dream
to adorn the blonde mane
of my lover's colt.
I was born in this bank
of the vibrating Arauca River,
I am sister of its foam,
of the herons, of the roses
and the sun.
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