Divine Sensations

“There are two divine sensations in life, and one of them is singing.” —Margaret Harshaw

Damn funny to hear as a newly out 27-year old gay guy with a Fundie past. I remember blushing, looking at my shoes, and laughing in astonishment.

Harshaw’s words came to mind when I recently worked with a dramatic soprano hiding in the alto section—a gorgeous voice pouring forth after 45 minutes of work. That’s when she said: “I’ve been on morphine only once in my life—and understand why anyone would become addicted. This was like that! When I sang just now—that’s how it felt! OMG.”

I laughed and remembered a story told of Miss Harshaw, who, after a rehearsal at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University—where she was singing Kundry when well into her 60’s—said to a gathering of students: “You guys will never believe how high the sound is. Yes, you nod that you understand, but you can't even begin to imagine it. Sometimes you are out there on the stage for hours, constantly lifting into that high place, over and over, and suddenly something happens. It is as if a clear lake bursts high inside you and washes your whole body with cool water.”

Yes, it’s like that.

Such is the teaching of García and Lamperti.

Photo Credit: Margaret Harshaw, courtesy of the collection of Daniel Shigo.