I am listening to classical music of the Baroque period this morning as I write this entry. When I was growing up, our house was filled with music. Both of my parents played musical instruments, my Dad, the violin and my Mom, the piano. We spent time listening to classical music on the record player. Ultimately, each of my sisters and myself learned to play an instrument and to sing.
Singing After Supper
It was my Mom who thought of the idea of singing while we cleaned up the kitchen after supper. (No automatic dishwasher at that time. Washing and drying dishes was a chore no one liked.) It started with a simple round of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” There is a 9 year age range from my oldest sister to my youngest. I’m number four of five daughters. I remember being taught by my Mom and my older sisters how to sing the melody and learn the trick of singing in a Round.
A Round
A Round is a song, usually with a simple melody, where one person starts singing and after one phrase the next person starts at the beginning and the first person continues with the next phrase. The melodies become harmonies as each person sings her part of the song in combination with the others. The song ends just as it began with each person stopping until the last person finishes the the last phrase alone.
Depending upon the song, the harmonies become quite beautiful; especially as more people join the round. We sang “London’s Burning,” and “Tender Shepherd.”
Lessons Learned
It was an excellent lesson in self-confidence and team work, because each person had to sing her own part as well as listen to the others. It is also my idea of family.
As adults, my sisters and I are independently living our lives, some of us with children and grandchildren, others with careers—we still come together as a family and like most families in our modern era, we have to go our separate ways again because we all live in different cities now.
Happy Mother's Day!
I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to my Mom and my sisters, whether or not all of us have children—each of us has that nurturing spirit! I am so glad that we are entwined in the harmonies of our lives.
With Love,
Ellen
