As I mentioned in my first post, singing has always been part of my life.
Years ago, I was part of a group recruited by folksinger and musicologist Mitzie Collins for a recording project. We read through reams of songs transcribed from the journals of adults and children from many Shaker communities. The project resulted, ultimately, in two CDs of Shaker music, some of which had never been recorded or published before.
While waiting for rehearsal to begin the first night, I browsed through Mitzie's shelf of old hymnals and song books from many other Christian traditions. In one of them was a hymn written by Robert Lowry called "How can I keep from singing?" that is often mis-attributed as a Shaker or Quaker song, or merely identified as 'traditional'. Long out of copyright, the text has been adopted and adapted by singers and songwriters from Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary) to Enya to jazz singer Rene Marie. But, while they may rewrite verses 2 and 3 to be more relevant and topical, nobody messes with verse 1:
"My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth’s lamentation
I hear the sweet though far off hymn
That hails a new creation:
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul—
How can I keep from singing?"
The text has stuck with me. It resonates. I can't get it out of my head. It perfectly describes my feeling about music, about singing. No matter how complicated my life gets, no matter what awful things happen in the world, there is an underlying melody and rhythm that always, always carries me through.
Singing keeps me sane.
Kat Nagel
katnagel@rochester.rr.com
