‘If Music be the food of Love, Play on. give me excess of it’
Monday, 25th February 2019
‘If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it’
Shakespeare Twelfth Night Act 1 Scene 1 Duke Orsino:
Music has always been part of my life. My mother loved singing. My dad sang. They sang to each other. My mam used to substitute our surname ‘Dante’ when she sang “Oh Dante Boy’ the pipes, the pipes are calling….’ As a child when I was taken round to mammy’s parents home we would stand round the piano while granddad Colivet played ‘Galway Bay’ and other songs. Each member of the family had their own songs. Among my Mams’ were ‘This is my lovely day’ and ‘I’m forever Blowing Bubbles’. Dad would sing ‘The Old Bog Road. In Dante brother Willie’s home we often sang Irish rebel songs such as ‘The Four Green Fields. Whenever we visited uncle Tom’s they sang ‘Come Back Paddy Reilly’, Oh for one of the Kerry Dances, The Rose of Tralee, Sean South of Garryowen and Mother Machree. When we moved into our new home out in the North Circular Road, Limerick I remember my brother Desmond filling our home with happiness when we sang with the ‘Laughing Policeman’ broadcast on the RTE radio.The Laughing Song by George W. Johnson Oh, oh, oh, oh…..rang through out of every room.
I recorded my parents singing. It breaks my heart and tears run down my cheeks listening to them. Yesterday I listened to my mam whistling Are ye right there, Michael, are you right? while I sang a long with her. It is very poignant especially if you come from Limerick and went on holiday to Kilkee. It has a lovely lilting air to it.
You may talk of Columbus’s sailing
Across the Atlantical Sea
But he never tried to go railing
From Ennis as far as Kilkee
You run for the train in the morning
The excursion train starting at eight
You’re there when the clock gives the warning
And there for an hour you’ll wait
And as you’re waiting in the train
You’ll hear the guard sing this refrain
Are ye right there, Michael, are ye right ?
Do you think that we’ll be there before the night ?
Ye’ve been so long in starting
That ye couldn’t say for certain
Still ye might now, Michael, so ye might
They find out where the engine’s been hiding
And it drags you to sweet Corofin
Says the guard: Back her down on the siding
There’s a goods from Kilrush coming in
Perhaps it comes in two hours
Perhaps it breaks down on the way
If it does, says the guard, be the powers
We’re here for the rest of the day
And while you sit and curse your luck
The train backs down into a truck
Are ye right there, Michael, are ye right ?
Have ye got the parcel there for Mrs. White ?
Ye haven’t, oh begorrah
Say it’s coming down tomorrow
And it might now, Michael, so it might.
At Lahinch, the sea shines like a jewel
With joy you are ready to shout
When the stoker cries out: There’s no fuel
And the fire’s tee-totally out
But hand up that bit of a log there
I’ll soon have ye out of the fix
There’s fine clamp of turf in the bog there.
And the rest go a-gathering sticks
And while you’re breaking bits of trees
You hear some wise remarks like these
Are ye right there, Michael, are ye right ?
Do ye think that you can get the fire to light ?
Oh, an hour you’ll require
For the turf it might be drier
Well it might now, Michael, so it might
Kilkee! you may never get near it
You’re in luck if the train brings you back
For the permanent way is so queer
It spends most of its time off the track
Uphill the old engine is climbing
While the passengers push with a will
You’re in luck when you reach Ennistymon
For all the way home is downhill
And as you’re wobbling through the dark
You hear the guard make this remark
Are you right there, Michael, are ye right ?
Do you think that we’ll be there before it’s light ?”
It all depends on whether
The old engine holds together
And it might now, Michael, so it might, so it might
And it might, now, Michael, so it might.
Another song that my mother sang was The Meeting of the Waters by Thomas Moore (1779-18520
There is not in the wild world a valley so sweet
as the vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet;
Oh! the last rays of feeling and life must depart,
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fad from my heart.
Yet it was not that nature had shed o’ver the scene
Her purest of crystal and brightest of green;
Twas not her soft magic of streamlet or hill,
Oh! no- it was something more exquisite still.
Another was The Spinning Wheel and The Wild Colonial Boy:
There was a wild colonial boy, Jack Duggan was his name
He was born and raised in Ireland in a place called Castle Maine
he was his father’s only son, his mother’s pride and joy
and dearly did his parents love the wild colonial boy
When our family eventually rented a flat in a house off Acre Lane Brixton, when my parents left me to look after my two brothers, I used to sing along with the radio. If there were songs from Ireland I felt homesick especially when I’f we only had old Ireland over here.’ was played:
This is the version of the chords from the Foster And Allen
[D]I was (G)dreaming of old (C)Ireland and (G)Killarney’s lakes and fells,
I was (C)dreaming of the (G)shamrock and the (A)dear old Shandon (D7)bells, ,
When my (G)memory sugg(C)ested in a (G)vision bright and clear, ,
All the (C)strange things that would (G)happen if we (D)had old Ireland (G)here. ,
CHORUS,
If the [G]Blarney stone stood (C)out on Sydney (G)harbour, ,
And (C)Dublin town to Melbourne [D]came to (G)stay, ,
If the Shannon River (C)joined the Brisbane (G)Waters, ,
And Kill(A)arney’s lakes flowed into Botany (D7)Bay[C], ,
[A]If the (G)Shandon bells rang (C)out in old Free(G)mantle,
And (C)County Cork at Adelaide [D]did ap(G)pear,
Erin’s (Em)sons would never roam, all the (G)boys would stay at home, ,
If we only had old (D)Ireland over (G)here
I entered the Salesian convent aged fourteen. Fortunately, I was chosen to be in the choir. I was especially delighted because the alternative to singing was preparing the vegetables. We sang at Mass, benediction, other liturgical functions and on special occasions such as when we entertained important visitors. Whenever my parents joined the sisters at Benediction, my mam used to say that she could hear me singing. ‘You have been gifted with a lovely voice’, she’s say!
I loved singing the various parts of the Mass. We sang in Gregorian plain chant in Latin. The Gregorian Chant is so expressive. The notation is simple.
The Kýrie Eléison from the Liber Usualis.
It is a basic element of Western and Eastern systems of musical notation prior to the invention of five-line staff notation.As the earliest notation did not indicate rhythms or tempo additional symbols eventually became standard in modern editions of plainchant.
Memories of the liturgy sung in Latin plainchant makes me appreciate my inheritance. The Introit to Christmas Mass, the Exultet at the Easter vigil and also polyphonic motets.
The Latin version fits more easily into the music but here is a translation.
Exsultet
Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven,
exult, let Angel ministers of God exults,
let the trumpet of salvation
sound aloud our mighty King’s triumph!
Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her,
ablaze with light from her eternal King,
let all corners of the earth be glad,
knowing an end to gloom and darkness.
Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice,
arrayed with the lightning of his glory,
let this holy building shake with joy,
filled with the mighty voices of the peoples..
O happy fault! (Felix Culpa)
Some of the motets that we sung :
| Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine,[2] vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine:[3] esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.[4]O Iesu dulcis, O Iesu pie, O Iesu, fili Mariae. Miserere mei. Amen.[5] |
Hail, true Body, born
of the Virgin Mary, having truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, from whose pierced side water and blood flowed: Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death! O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus, O Jesus, son of Mary, have mercy on me. Amen. |
Schubert’s Ave Maria and Mozart’s Regina Coeli
Soon after I entered the convent I recall Kathleen Scullion playing
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
When I was in the noviciate in Henley-on-Thames in 1964. My brother Desmond came to visit me. He asked me if I seen the Beatles. I told him that we had to keep the place clean and tidy so we hardly ever saw a beetle.
Some of my favourite hymns were the Advent hymns Like the Dawning of the morning. Oh come oh come Emmanuel
Veni Veni Emmanuel
Veni, veni emmanuel;
Captivum solve israel,
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus dei filio.
Gaude! gaude! emmanuel,
Nascetur pro te, israel!
Veni, veni, o oriens;
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nobulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.
Gaude! gaude! emmanuel,
Nascetur pro te, israel!
Veni, clavis davidica!
Regna reclude cealica;
Fac iter tutum superum,
Et claude vias inferum,
Gaude! gaude!…
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel!
Like the dawning of the morning,
on the mountains golden heights,
Like the breaking of he moonbeams
on the gloom of cloudy nights.
Like a secret told by angels
Getting known upon the earth
Is the mother’s expectation
Of Messiah’s speedy birth
2. Thou wert happy, blessed Mother,
With the very bliss of heaven,
Since the angel’s salutation
In thy raptured ear was given;
Since the Ave of that midnight
When thou wert anointed Queen,
Like a river over-flowing
Hath the grace within thee been.
.
3. Thou hast waited, child of David,
And thy waiting now is o’er.
Thou hast seen Him, blessed Mother,
And wilt see him evermore.
Oh, his human face and features
They were passing sweet to see;
Thou beholdest them this moment;
Mother show them now to me. Frederick W. Faber.
As nuns after compline we often sang:
| Salve, Regina
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae; vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae. Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria. |
When I was teaching in Our Lady’s First School I living in the convent in Chertsey. The parish priest, Fr Albert Carette invited the Sisters to help modernise church services, We wanted to encourage youngsters to become more involved in the Mass and other services.I had already being playing a small guitar while teaching. Father bought me a more suitable guitar. The parents of the young people were involved in choosing the music. Mr Brian Foley was our leader on many occasions. Salesian, Brother Joe Glackin and Peter Brearley played guitars and inspired our youngsters. Cellos, recorders, violins, various types of recorders and percussion instruments were played.
This was after the Second Vatican Council when the Roman Catholic Church (1962–65) announced by Pope John XXIII, that Christians separated from Rome to join in search for reunion.
Among the changes that ensued was the move to the use of the vernacular in Catholic services. From 1563 until 1965, the Catholic Mass was celebrated entirely in Latin. Some Catholics didn’t understand Latin. Catholics worldwide wished to celebrate the Mass in their own native language. So the majority of worshippers were delighted when they were granted permission to use their native language. Latin of course was to remain to be used because it was acknowledged that the advantages of it were that it is that this one language can be used anywhere and everywhere all over the world. It is universal. Once the vernacular was promoted a full, conscious, and active participation of the faithful in all the prayers, hymns, and responses of the Mass all over the world came about. This resulted in many Catholics using the Church of England and other churches hymnals.
Kevin Mayhew became a big name in the Catholic Church in England. His website claims that ‘No other company or person compiled more hymn books than Kevin Mayhew in the over 50 years.The fact that his Hymns Old & New brand sold more copies than all others combined confirms this belief.’
As Salesians Sisters our mission was to help young people to appreciate the way our founder St John Bosco used a system of education called the Preventive system. We tried to make sure that in Salesian schools and youth clubs young people absorbed in meaningful activities. Educare=draw out the best; education, means just that. Engaging youth in learning, sport, acting and singing. There was always plenty of music. In the female branch of the Order the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians or Salesian Sisters aspired to doing the same as the priests and brothers, Sr Ella, Sr Margaret Power, Sr Cecily and Sr Marian were great singers and musicians. sometimes sang
a cappella. The superiors took every opportunity to keep up-to-date. We went on several courses run by Kevin Mayhew. His song books were adopted in our communities and churches. I remember travelling in a minibus to all day events to a school in Crawley.
It was then that we became aware of not being permitted to copy a hymn ie copy rite.
Gestetner Machine was a great means of producing copies of a hymns.
- The Gestetner Cyclograph was a stencil-method duplicator that used a thin sheet of paper coated with wax (originally kite paper was used), which was written on with a special stylus or typed that left a broken line through the stencil, removing the paper’s wax coating. Ink was forced through the stencil (originally by an ink roller), and it left its impression on a white sheet of paper. It was laborious and messy. You could end up covered in ink. What’s more if you made a mistake you had either to use Tipp-Ex is a brand of correction fluid and other related products (invented by Arun Entwistle) It was popular throughout Europe re-type the whole sheet.
Fr Carette was very conscientious about observing copy rite . When I wanted to reproduce some hymns to use in the parish he made me write to each of the composers. They would stipulate a fee for the reproduction of their composition. I received a lovely letter back from Timothy Dudley-Smith when I approached him to ask if we could us ‘Tell out my soul’ He said that if his work was appreciated he did not mind how many times it was used.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
In God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age the same;
His holy name, the Lord, the mighty One.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by;
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children’s children and forever more!
We also encouraged youngsters to sing in youth clubs. I still have one of the yellow song books called ‘Sing Along’ with the words typed to songs such as: This Land is your land, Daddy’s Taking us to the Zoo tomorrow, If you’re Happy, Edelweiss, My Grandfather’s clock,I love to go a Wandering, Michael, /Row the Boat,Step we Gaily, Speed Bonny Boat, Morning has Broken.
When I was teaching in Battersea, we took a mixed group of thirty seven-year-old children on a school trip to Sandrock Hall, our Salesian house in Hastings. I had been given the task of collecting each child’s spending money. I carried it in an apron pocket that was tied around my waist. The custom was that once the coach was on its way I stood in the aisle in the front of the coach singing action songs such as ‘I know an Old Woman’. This was to prevent the children from suffering from travel and home sickness. The cash weighed me down and the coach moved rapidly. It was just as well that I had a strong constitution.
Sr Winifred was our headteacher when I taught in the Sacred Heart Infant School in Battersea. I taught seven year old children who were also preparing for the reception of their First Holy Communion. We recognised that the doctrinal concepts that they were expected to imbibe were difficult even when simplified for them and indeed their parents. Under Sr Winifred’s guidance we presented these and many other matters of Faith through dance, music and movement. They soon became familiar with:
Morning from Peer Grynt and the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker
Edvard Grieg and other classical music. As many of the children were of Caribbean origin they were steeped in rhythm. We didn’t need to show them how to move!
Around 1963 the Singing Nun arrived on the scene. Belgian, Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers known as the Soeur Sourire or the Smiling Nun was a member of the Order of Preachers, the Dominicans.
She accompanied her singing on a guitar. The lyrics were in French.
Dominique, nique, nique, over the land he plods
And sings a little song
Never asking for reward
He just talks about the Lord
He just talks about the Lord
At a time when Johnny Lackland
Over England was the King
Dominique was in the backland
Fighting sin like anything
Now a heretic, one day
Among the thorns forced him to crawl
Dominique with just one prayer
Made him hear the good Lord’s call
Without horse or fancy wagon
He crossed Europe up and down
Poverty was his companion
As he walked from town to town
To bring back the straying liars
And the lost sheep to the fold
He brought forth the Preaching Friars
Heaven’s soldier’s, brave and bold
One day, in the budding Order
There was nothing left to eat
Suddenly two angels walked in
With a loaf of bread and meat
Dominique once, in his slumber
Saw the Virgin’s coat unfurled
Over Frairs without number
Preaching all around the world
Grant us now, oh Dominique
The grace of love and simple mirth
That we all may help to quicken
Godly life and truth on earth
But in the convent we were not aware of either the Beatles or the Singing nun!
Of course the Beatles in 1960: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history.
My brother Des came to visit me when I was in the noviciate in Friar Park Henley-on-Thames. He asked me if I had seen the Beatles. I replied that we rarely saw insects because we kept the convent clean and tidy!
Later on I met George Harrison when he came to buy Friar Park. I didn’t know who he was even then!
On my Wedding Day, the day of my Profession, 5th August 1965, the Veni Sponsa Christi was sung as a group of seven novices descended the stairs to reach the altar. We were about to become brides of Christ.
Veni sponsa Christi,
accipe coronam,
quam tibi Dominus preparavit
in aeternum.
Come brides of Christ to receive the crown that God has prepared for you in eternity….’
The Sisters often allowed me to borrow the convent car to take my parents out for a drive. We always sang when we were n the car. Many’s a time when we’d sing along to a tape rec wording of Val Doonican’s Paddy McGinty’s Goat”, Delaney’s Donkey, Slattery’s Mounted Fut, Too-ra Loo-ra Loo-ral and many more.
Mam would whistle along while my dad accompanied Val and I.
As the years passed by I began to question why I remained in the convent. After the Second Vatican Council many changes took place in Religious Life. When I began to teach in Bermondsey i suffered a breakdown. I have outlined details of this in my autobiography’Dropping The Habit’. The Salesian Sister who held the post of Provincial, wishing to support and help me sent me to Maynooth University in County Wicklow in the hope that I might recover there.
Back in Ireland I was once more steeped in many styles of music. Music was everywhere. In St Patricks University chapel. From the various music societies venues.
In our Salesian colleges we sang accompanied by guitars and other instruments. Male and females mingled. I played my descant recorder and travelled for lessons to a teacher in rooms off O’Connell Dublin. A favourite of mine seemed to be:
John Denver’s You fill up My Senses:
You fill up my senses like a night in a forest,
like the mountains in springtime,
like a walk in the rain, like a storm in the desert,
like a sleepy blue ocean.
You fill up my senses, come fill me again.
Come let me love you, let me give my life to you,
let me drown in your laughter, let me die in your arms.
let me lay down beside you, let me always be with you
Come let me love you, come love me again.
In our Salesian convent in Maynooth one of our sisters, Nuala loved singing ‘Steal Away’ while one of the brothers accompanied her on the guitar.
In our convent in Maynooth, County Kildare we were also introduced to wonderfully music from ‘Songs of the Spirit compiled by Damian Lundy
Damian Lundy was a religious brother of the de La Salle Order. He died in 1997 at the age of 53. He is widely respected as a leading innovator in many forms of Catholic ministry and education in the UK Among the hymns were. Lauadato Si
Earthen Vessels by John Foley, On Eagle Wings, Here I am Lord and many other beautiful modern songs with meaningful lyrics and music.
The young Sisters and Brother often met to sing and play many song and hymns. Those were happy times. Nuala left the convent not long after!
Steal Away lyrics
by The Fureys & Davey Arthur
Steal Away away, lets steal away
No reason left to stay
For me and you
Let’s start a-new
And darling steal away
Let’s steal away and chase some dreams
And hope they never find us
The dreary days
The empty nights
We’ll leave them all behind us
Steal away, lets steal away
No reason left to stay
For me and you
Let’s start a-new
And darling steal away
We’ll leave behind the city streets
The gloom and desolation
The rain the cold
Just growing old
God knows its a hard old station
Steal away, let’s steal away
No reason left to stay
For me and you
Let’s start a-new
And darling steal away
We’ll leave with just our memories
And make a new beginning
We have to choose
To win or lose
And it’s time we started winning
Steal away, let’s steal away
No reason left to stay
For me and you
Let’s start a-new
And darling steal away
Steal away, let’s steal away
No reason left to stay
For me and you
Let’s start a-new
And darling steal away
When I finished my degree in Maynooth I was still unsure whether I had the courage to leave the convent. The superiors keen to support me permitted me to move into a convent belonging to the Sisters of Mercy in Baggot Street Dublin. I was to live there and begin a secretarial course in a college off Grafton Street.
One night on my way home just before I come to Stephen’s Green i was transporting heavenward by the haunting sounds of Summertime:
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high
Oh, your daddy’s rich and your ma is good-lookin’
So hush, little baby, don’t you cry
One of these mornings you’re gonna rise up singing
And you’ll spread your wings and you’ll take to the sky
But till that morning, there ain’t nothin’ can harm you
With daddy and mammy standin’ by
One of these mornings you’re gonna rise up singing
And you’ll spread your wings and you’ll take to the sky
But till…
At pains to maintain the new lively and meaningful approach to religion I started frequenting Mass on a Saturday evening downstairs in Dublin’s St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral.I was attracted by the singing of Taize music. There were no Prie-dieus so we sat or knelt on the floor. There were lots of candles.
Brother Roger started the Taize Community. His intention was that meditative Singing is one of the most essential elements of worship. Short songs, repeated again and again, give it a meditative character. Using just a few words they express a basic reality of faith, quickly grasped by the mind. As the words are sung over many times, this reality gradually penetrates the whole being. Meditative singing thus becomes a way of listening to God. It allows everyone to take part in a time of prayer together and to remain together in attentive waiting on God, without having to fix the length of time too exactly.
When I taught primary school children the guitar proved to be an asset.
Patrick Duane wonderful head teacher in St Patrick’s primary school Avenue Road Farnborough. Children coming into assembly each morning became familiar with composers like Johann Sebastian Bach. Johann Sebastian Bach. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Ludwig van Beethoven. Ludwig van Beethoven. Richard Wagner. Richard Wagner. Joseph Haydn. Joseph Haydn. Johannes Brahms. Johannes Brahms. Franz Schubert. Franz Schubert. Robert Schumann. Robert …
Michael Valentine Doonican was an Irish singer of traditional pop, easy listening, and novelty songs, who was noted for his warm and relaxed style.
Paddy McGinty’s Goat”, ” Delaney’s Donkey
Rafferty’s Motor car
The Isle of Innisfree is an uninhabited island within Lough Gill, in County Sligo, Ireland, where Yeats spent his summers as a child.
Isle of Innisfree
Author: words & music by Dick Farrelly
Copyright: Peter Maurice Music/EMI Music
These are the correct words given to me by Dick Farrelly’s son Gerard
I’ve met some folks who say that I’m a dreamer
And I’ve no doubt there’s truth in what they say
But sure a body’s bound to be a dreamer
When all the things he loves are far away.
And precious things are dreams onto an exile
They take him o’er the land across the sea
Especially when it happens he’s an exile
From that dear lovely Isle of Innisfree.
And when the moonlight peeps across the rooftops
Of this great city wondrous tho’ it be
I scarcely feel its wonder or its laughter
I’m once again back home in Innisfree.
I wander o’er green hills thro’ dreamy valleys
And find a peace no other land could know
I hear the birds make music fit for angels
And watch the rivers laughing as they flow.
And then into a humble shack I wander
My dear old home, and tenderly behold
The folks I love around the turf fire gathered
On bended knees their rosary is told.
But dreams don’t last
Tho’ dreams are not forgotten
And soon I’m back to stern reality
But tho’ they paved the footways here with gold dust
I still would choose the Isle of Innisfree.
I was fortunate enough to teach in St Bernard’s School in Glasgow. Our convent is in Paisley. Sr Brenda and I drove to school each morning. Mr Devlin was our headmaster. It was a very well run primary school. The system of education was excellent in Scotland. They did not follow the many changes and trends that England adopted as a result of the Plowden Report etc. There was a great spirit among the staff that infiltrated to the children and parents. We had regular social evenings. Instead of asking a member of staff whether they had some kind of entertainment to contribute you would be asked: What is your party piece?
Brenda has a lovely voice. She can also accompanied herself on the guitar. She kindly invited me to sing along with her. We sang songs like ‘The Spinning Wheel and Galway Bay.
in our community in Paisley Sr Ella often sang. She raised roof many a time with ‘Bless This House’. Mam loved listening to the great John McCormack singing it.
Bless this house, O Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and troubles out.
Bless the roof and chimney top.
Let thy love flow all about.
Bless this house that it may prove
Ever open to joy and truth.
Bless us all that we may be
Fit, O Lord, to dwell with thee.
Bless us so that one day we,
May dwell, dear Lord, with thee.
After I left the convent I still tried to play my guitar. When raising funds for the Fountain Centre, a holistic place within St Luke’s Cancer Centre in the Royal Surrey Hospital we sometimes had an Irish Night. I often sang a song or two.
On my Seventh Birthday I sang Isle of Inisfree accompanying myself on my guitar.
More recently while being treated for breast cancer a lady called Linda Bellows asked the leading nurse, Ruth, in the cancer unit in Frimley Park Hospital if there was any singing group for patients recovering from breast cancer. She asked because she discovered that she could cope better when she sang Beatles songs and others at home. Ruth immediately searched for a conductor/leader. Fortunately Ruth contacted Stephen Petch is a professional tenor, conductor and tutor. With well over 30 years’ vocal experience, he has performed for many Choral Societies across the established choral repertoire and given several song recitals. He is also an established freelance conductor, currently the regular Musical Director of two choirs and with experience spanning both bands and orchestras. Soon Kindred Spirits Choir was established.
Thirty ladies who are/have coped with breast cancer meet every Thursday evening to sing. This is a wonderful experience. Most of us would admit that we do not consider ourselves as singers but we do and we succeed even in performing at various venues.
Some four years ago I joined a ukulele group run by the U3A. I am at present in the Camberley and Farnborough Ukulele groups and I also signed up with the West End Adult Education Centre in Aldershot once a week in Aldershot.
The Camberley U3A group meet weekly to practice and perform in various nursing homes while the Farnborough group meet fortnightly. I enjoy singing while we accompany ourselves. The music tends to be suited to older people and we rarely have an Irish song in our repertoire.
Fortunately I have sung throughout my life.
I have planned my funeral Mass and cremation service. Danny Boy and Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana – Intermezzo among them.