I have just returned from a trip to Spain having thoroughly recharged the batteries. One of the joys of a holiday is more time to read. I decided it was time to drag myself away from books on singing technique. I had several waiting to be opened and the temptation was strong to pack them but instead I took up a recommendation of one of my students – an interesting girl studying psychology – and bought two books by Paulo Coelho. I chose two because of their strong association with Spain – “The Pilgrimage” and “The Alchemist”. Am I the last person on this planet to discover this author? OK, I know the critics love to dismiss his writing as rather treacly New Age but there is much to admire about the simplicity with which he weaves ancient wisdom into pure fairy tale.I delighted in feeling like a child who during the long summer break loved to curl up with a book that took me on a magical journey. I have since ordered every book he has written from Amazon, so there!
What has all this got to do with “Two Kinds Of Singing” you may ask. Well, there is a lovely passage in Coelho’s “The Witch Of Portobello” which caught my eye. When the heroine, Athena, is taught calligraphy by a Bedouin he remarks that:
“There are two kinds of letter. The first is precise, but lacks soul. In this case, although the calligrapher may have mastered the technique, he has focused solely on the craft, which is why it hasn’t evolved, but become repetitive; he hasn’t grown at all, and one day he’ll give up the practice of writing because he feels it is mere routine.
The second kind is done with great technique, but with soul as well. For that to happen, the intention of the writer must be in harmony with the word.”
How true this is of the Art of Singing. The great singers are great because they sing with soul.
