Music – A Visit With Sandra

The Music of Words

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I’m a musician. I play keyboard instruments mainly. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of using my talents to entertain audiences, to minister as organist and choir director for two different churches, to help facilitate weddings and funerals for scores of families, to compose and orchestrate numerous songs, and to teach others to use their gifts and talents to bless the world with music from their own keyboards.

These days I rarely sit down to a musical keyboard. Instead, I’m nearly glued to the kind of keyboard that is attached to a desktop or laptop computer. For, you see, I’m also a writer. Now, some people feel that I have left music behind as I’ve devoted so much of myself to the writing. But you know what? I’ve discovered a truth that, ten years ago, I may not have even thought about:

I’ve discovered that music — true music — doesn’t come from a keyboard on a piano, an organ, or an accordion. Nor does it come from a horn, a guitar, a violin, or any other instrument. On the contrary, music comes from the soul. It’s the melody, the harmony, and the rhythm of life that courses through our beings and finds its release through any number of avenues. Frequently, it is released through instruments constructed for that specific purpose, but the music of the soul is also released through words.

I find that I’m releasing the music of my soul constantly as my fingers whisk over the letter keys of my laptop. I’m letting all those melodies, harmonies, and rhythms of life course through me to touch every reader. And when those readers are touched, my words create emotions, thoughts, actions, and reactions as surely as the strains of sound vibrating from a piano or a horn. I’m calling to and capturing the soul of the reader as surely as the chords from a guitar call and capture the soul of the listener.

It is not the instrument that creates the music. In truth, the music is created from the deepest part of our being and simply seeks an avenue — any avenue — of expression. So, personally, I believe I am offering music to the world through the words that flow from my soul onto the page as surely as I have offered it in the past from the keyboard that sent forth vibrations of sound.

So, my fellow writers — let your music flow.

~~~~~

Meloncholy Monday

I’m having a rather melancholy Monday, so I decided to just post a picture that makes me feel happy. I played this piano for years. So did one of my best friends in the world. So did the master pianist Liberace. What a colorful past it’s had. It has a new home in Georgia now. And I’m happy just thinking about it.

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Musical Memories That Ebb and Flow Like the Tide

Today’s Daily Post prompt: tide brought back memories of a popular singing duo from the 1960’s and early ’70’s. The Righteous Brothers (actually two unrelated young men: Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield) topped the music charts a number of times. One of their well-remembered songs was “Ebb Tide”. It never rose to the heights that two of their other hits did, but it was quite successful both in the States and in the UK.

The two songs the duo is best remembered for are “Unchained Melody,” which came into a second round of popularity after being used in the 1990 movie Ghost, and “You’ve Lost That Loving’ Feelin’,” which is credited by some music historians as being the most played song in the history of radio. They had a uniquely emotive sound all their own — often referred to in music jargon as “blue-eyed soul” — and its almost impossible to listen to most of their music without feeling it strongly.

Video posted by Tommy 194070 on YouTube

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Daily Post Prompt: Music – ‘Word Music’

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I’m a musician. I play keyboard instruments mainly. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of using my talents to entertain in various venues, to minister as organist and choir director for two different churches, to help facilitate weddings and funerals for scores of families, to compose and orchestrate numerous songs, and to teach others to use their gifts and talents to bless the world with music from their own keyboards.

So, my fellow writers — let the music play.

WordPress Daily Prompt: Music

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Prompt Nights – Music

This week’s “Prompt Nights” theme is music. I planned to write a brand new piece for the challenge, but I just kept being pulled back in my own mind to a piece I wrote some time ago. I know I shared a poem I had written previously for last week’s theme as well, and I don’t usually do that on challenges. But this one little poem just keeps tugging at me tonight, so I’m going to let it have a fresh airing for this new prompt.

MUSICAL NOTES SWIRLING REQUIEM

What? You ask how was my keyboard
Torn asunder piece by piece?
I admit it was my doing:
Thought perhaps my pain ‘twould ease.

For I cannot find my music;
Cannot hear the melody.
Cannot feel the beat, the rhythm;
And, of course, no harmony.

Still, my soul keeps searching, reaching;
Won’t believe the gift is gone.
It once coursed throughout my being;
Every breath exhaled a song.

Every heartbeat set a tempo;
Notes cascaded from my mind;
Even in sleep, my dreams invaded —
Nocturnes delicate, sublime.

Now, I’ve only fleeting memories
Of creating symphonies.
Tragedy beyond my bearing:
There’s no music left in me!

~~~

Share Your World Week 41

To join in the fun of Cee’s Share Your World Challenge, just follow the link to her site and get all the details.

Question # 1: What genre of music do you like?

Easy Listening/Swing/Soft Rock.

Question # 2: What is the worst thing you ate this last week?

I love food. Nothing I ate was bad.
.

Question # 3: Would you like to be famous? In what way?

I would like to be so famous as an author that the world would be literally clamoring for my books.

Question # 4: Complete this sentence: This sandwich could really use some …

This sandwich could really use some cheese — more cheese — lots of cheese. A sandwich isn’t a sandwich without cheese!
`

Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?

I’m super grateful that the Lord provided some extra money to put towards paying off the mortgage on my house. I’m getting very, very, very close now!

I get to teach my blogging class and the healing school classes again this week. I do love both of those experiences.

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Poems From My Past

Decided to visit some poems from my past. I had almost forgotten about writing some of these, so I dusted them off and stuck them into a brand new post for all the readers who are new to my site in the past couple of years. Hope you enjoy them.

WELL, I’LL BE BLOGGED!

I think I have a lot to say —
Too much to finish in one day.
If I record a daily log,
I’ll have the skeleton of a total blog.

And if I flesh that skeleton out
And give it life, I have no doubt
Readers will gather round about
And greet each shining post with joyful shout.

I’ll shock the timid, cheer the sad,
Enrage the liberal and make him mad,
And all I write, be it good or bad,
To cyberspace my own two cents will add.

A POEM WITH ONLY FOUR VOWELS

Sometimes I write too long.
Sometimes I write too short.
Sometimes I write to make a point.
Sometimes I write for sport.

Now WordPress challenged me
To write a post that’s strange.
Cannot be done the easy way.
I have to make a change.

They say but twenty-five
Of letters are allowed.
And if I’m brave, they then advise
That I leave out a vowel!

So in this little poem,
One vowel I’ll avoid.
I hope it won’t be sorely missed,
And my good name destroyed.

Let’s see, what can I choose?
There’s only five to start.
Oh, my, this is a challenge real.
WordPress, please have a heart!

Okay, I’ve made my choice.
So happy I can be.
The vowel I’ve chosen to ignore
Lives between ‘T’ and ‘V’.

CONTEMPLATIONS ON LEONARDO DA VINCI’S THE LAST SUPPER

Behold the blessed, holy convocation,
Preserved for us to ponder as we gaze.
In transient elements, the artist painted
Eternal substance; impartations that amaze.

We look upon the faces art has captured
As loved disciples try to understand
The Master’s words; He speaks of sacrifices
And of His blood and body freely given for man.

Their eyes – so full of love, yet consternation,
Trying to grasp full meaning of this meal.
All other Passovers remembered history,
But now the sacrifice sits here with them, so real.

In colors both subdued and yet alive,
The artist welcomes me to come join in
Our Lord’s last supper and His revelation:
He’ll now go forth to pay the price for all my sin.

BORED

I am bored … so bored.
I need something else to do.
Wrack my brain … the pain.
What will help? Don’t have a clue.

Talk on phone … endless drone.
Do my nails until they gleam.
Clean desk drawer … fun chore:
Found lost candy and hand cream.

Still I’m bored … so bored.
Without something else to try,
I’ll have no choice … guilty voice:
Must start my real work by and by.

REQUIEM

What? You ask how was this keyboard
Torn asunder piece by piece?
I admit it was my doing:
Thought perhaps my pain ‘twould ease.

For I cannot find my music;
Cannot hear the melody.
Cannot feel the beat, the rhythm;
And, of course, no harmony.

Still, my soul keeps searching, reaching;
Won’t believe the gift is gone.
It once coursed throughout my being;
Every breath exhaled a song.

Every heartbeat set a tempo;
Notes cascaded from my mind;
Even in sleep, my dreams invaded —
Nocturnes delicate, sublime.

Now, I’ve only fleeting memories
Of creating symphonies.
Tragedy beyond my bearing:
There’s no music left in me!

LONGING FOR THEM NOW

Bright flashes of blissful moments,
Fluttering pages of Christmas memories.
Drifting through my mind.
Pages of memories of childhood beam
With living, expectant Christmas dreams.
Longing for them now.

Remembering how each page was able to ignite
My imagination, which brought each one to life.

Oh happy, happy days!
Bright daydreams & wishes,
Make-believing magic,
Found within the pages –
The Christmas catalogs.

Share Your World, 2015 – Week 21

Cee’s instructions this week are to choose four subjects from a list she has posted. Under each of those subjects, list four things. So here goes.

FAVORITE SONGS:
(This is a particularly difficult category because as a musician, I have some songs that are my favorites to play, but then as a listener, there are some other songs that are my favorites to listen to. And then, of course, there’s my love for Christmas, which automatically puts some of those songs at the top of the list — and my love for Jesus, which throws in a couple dozen hymns and worship songs. So limiting myself to 4 songs is going be hard, but I’ll give it my best shot.)

1. “I’ll Be Seeing You” (This song is my ALL-TIME favorite from all categories)

2. “God Rest You Merry Genglemen” (My favorite Christmas song).

3. “White Christmas” (My second favorite Christmas song and one of my favorites from any category)

4. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (Classic Hymn)

FAVORITE FLOWERS OR PLANTS:

1. Daisies

2. Sunflowers

3. Peonies

4. Honeysuckle

FAVORITE ANIMALS:

1. Dogs

2. Cows (I think cows are possibly the most valuable animal God ever made. They are beautiful, they are serene and peace inducing, and they give nourishment. How much more can you ask from any animal?).

3. Birds (Especially Cardinals, Mockingbirds, and Bluebirds)

4. Horses (I haven’t ridden since I was a child, but a beautiful, healthy horse is such a beautiful thing to watch running through the field and enjoying life.)

FAVORITE STUFF THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH:

1. The character of Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show. (Played by one of America’s most talented comedians of all time: Don Knotts. Almost anything he does is truly funny, and some of his scenes are so hilarious that I laugh loud and long even when I’ve seen them zillions of times before.)

2. The scene from the original 1940’s version of Miracle on 34th Street where the toy department manager’s wife is soaked with martinis and is trying to talk on the phone to invite Santa Clause to come and stay at their home. (It’s hilarious, and I love acting out the scene for people who have never seen it. It truly a masterpiece scene from the classic movies library.)

3. Watching puppies play. (Just this week, I watched a video on Facebook that recorded a little dog getting ready to go to sleep in his carrier, but wanting a stuffed teddy bear in the carrier with him. The teddy bear was bigger than he was, but he worked really hard until he had it pulled inside with him. Unfortunately, I can’t get a copy of it to share.)

4. Laid-back, dry-wit humor — especially that from some of my writing friends.

Below is one of my favorite segments of Barney on the “Andy Griffith Show”:

Bonus Question: What are you thankful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week ahead?

I’m thankful that last week my digital books began selling on Amazon and that people are already ordering them. Next week I’m looking forward to getting geared up and prepared to teach the new Creative Writing Camp for Kids, which starts on June 8.

Visit Cee’s blog to get the details and join in the fun

~~~

Let’s Make Music

Six-Word Saturday – Summertime

`
It’s SUMMERTIME in the United States!
`

http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS

Six-Word Saturday – 5/17/14

Join the fun here:
http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS

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100-Word Challenge for Grownups – Week 119 – Carried on a Song

It’s nice to be able to participate again this week in Julia’s 100-word story challenge. It’s been a while since I got a chance to take part, so I’ve enjoyed this time around, and I hope the rest of you are enjoying coming up with your own stories as well. Here’s my offering:

CARRIED ON A SONG

I heard the song today. As I walked through Hilliard’s department store, a customer opened a jewelry box, and the melody tinkled across the room. My breath caught in my chest. Tears sprang to my eyes. But my heart smiled. Whenever I hear it, I think of you.

Roger loves me, and our boys are treasures I’d never part with, but my heart still aches for you. Fate may have decreed us bitter enemies in this horrible war between our nations, but as long as I live, my love will seek and find you in the strains of that song.

~~~

To get the scoop on how to participate, visit Julia here:
http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week119/#comment-18155

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Friday Fictioneers – 10/25/13 — ‘Requiem’

This week’s Friday Fictioneers challenge just cried out for a poem rather than prose, so I’ve told my story in verse this time. The photo is compliments of our hostess, Rochelle Wiseoff-Fields. My story is below the picture.

REQUIEM

What? You ask how did it happen?
Torn asunder piece by piece?
I admit it was my doing:
Thought perhaps my pain ‘twould ease.

For I cannot find my music;
Cannot hear the melody.
Cannot feel the beat, the rhythm;
And, of course, no harmony.

Still, my soul keeps searching, reaching;
Won’t believe the gift is gone.
It once coursed throughout my being;
Every breath exhaled a song.

Every heartbeat set a tempo;
Notes cascaded from my mind;
Even in sleep, my dreams invaded —
Nocturnes delicate, sublime.

Now, I’ve only fleeting memories
Of creating symphonies.
Tragedy beyond my bearing:
There’s no music left in me!

~~~

(Author’s note: For the sake of my wonderful friends who might worry about whether I’m going through such a tragedy personally, the answer, gratefully, is “No.” But I can imagine how devastating such an experience would be for any musician/composer.)

Join in the fun:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/25-october-2013/

Sending You a Song

I “borrowed” this video link from Gerry at
http://cobbies69.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/award-from-karen/

I’m sending it out to all of my terrific blogging friends. Thank you for adding so much to my life by becoming part of my cyberspace family. Gerry and I were just discussing the other day the fact that we wouldn’t want to have to deal with communication the way it used to be — without the Internet and all it’s blessings — which include all of YOU!

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` It’s SUMMERTIME in the United States! `

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`
It’s SUMMERTIME in the United States!
`