Phrasing of Family
An Audible Wild Card
I do not believe I could live without music. The way it it validates my emotions and amplifies them is like nothing else. I can feel them strongly when I listen to musical phrases that seem to carry the weight of the world on them. This emotion is what I want to express when I sing or play my viola. It also comes out in my writing as art takes many forms. I always listen to music when I write. It helps to focus my mind on the specific emotions I am trying to convey.
Phrasing in music is when a musician takes a section of music, like one or two measures, and enhances the experience. They will put their soul into the music and by doing this express their emotions to the audience. As a musician myself, I have done this many times in music. Making the music rise and fall to create emotion is what I believe phrasing is. Shaping the sound of a musical phrase expresses the emotion one wishes to give to the audience. This is also done in writing and speaking. To make the reader or listener understand the emotion behind what is being written or said, phrasing is used.
My family is a hotbed for my emotions to spring forth from. Feelings of gratitude, anger, love, and sadness all feed into the way I think about my family. My sense of wonder at the many struggles of my ancestors and the large heritage that was passed onto me from them give me a sense of purpose. What follows is a playlist of songs that I feel capture the essence of what my family means to me. In these songs there lies a connection to my family’s narrative and a connection to the emotions my family stir up in me.
“Siuil a Ruin” — The Celtic Women
One of my favorite times of year is the winter holiday season. This time radiates the kind warmth of family that I miss while off at college. A big part of Christmas at my house is listening to the Celtic Women play on PBS while baking and cooking in the kitchen. My mother and I love to listen to these women sing in Gaelic. It is magical to listen to, and this song in particular was the first song in Irish Gaelic that I learned to sing. It is mainly the chorus that is in Gaelic, but it is beautiful. When I sing this song, I can feel the strength of the Celtic blood in my veins. The language creates a gorgeous sound that is captured in this piece, and I still love to sing it to this day. This song brings out a strong connection to Ireland in me and that is an amazing feeling.
“Loch Lomond “— Frank Ticheli; sung by Peter Hollens
Occasionally, my family will travel up to Washington D.C. to go see my Aunt Madalene who lives in Annapolis. Aunt Madalene has a great speaker system installed in her house that plays music in every room, so while we eat dinner and catch up there is usually music playing in the background. One time when it was just my mom, Aunt Madalene, and me, my mom requested Irish music to be played, and this song came on. My mom and Aunt Madalene immediately knew what it was and sang along,but I had no idea. I was mesmerized by the sound. The connection to nature that is a central theme in Celtic culture was front and center, and the emotions it conjured were strong. The sweeping notes rising and falling make it easy to picture the grass covered hills in Ireland where sheep and cows graze.
’Twas there that we parted, in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o’ Ben Lomond,
Where in soft purple hue, the hieland hills we view,
And the moon coming out in the gloaming.
This verse will always take my breath away. The clear picture it paints with colors of purples and blues is delivered with soft care as a crescendo soon follows in the chorus. The delicate tone of the song here is perfect for imagery to fully take hold. With this song I can truly feel as though I am at Loch Lomond in Scotland.
“Into the Open Air “— Julie Fowlis
Brave is a movie that is filled to the brim with Celtic culture, and the music is no exception. The songs are sung by Julie Fowlis who is a Scottish singer. I was able to see her in concert this semester, and it was breathtaking. She mainly sings in Scottish Gaelic which successfully makes all of her songs enchanting. The songs in Brave are mostly in English, but the power and emotion in Fowlis’s voice is still very apparent. The dynamic between Merida and her mother and how it evolves though the course of this film will never fail to remind me of my own mother. Though we fight from time to time, I will never doubt her love for me or my love for her. Family is a strong connection, and this song evokes those emotions of gratitude and love in me.
“Geordie” — Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer
Nights in the car with my mother listening to NPR as they play their Irish music channel are surreal in a comforting way. We sit in a soft silence as fiddles and folk tunes fill the car with their sound. I specifically remember the circumstances for this late night car ride were not of the most happy sort, but still this memory is a good one in its own right. We were driving through a cute, downtown area with old buildings and cute shops. It was dark and late on this Friday night as my mother and I drove to our dismal location. However, the Irish radio hour was on, so my mother and I were enjoying the ride. Then this song came on, and it grabbed us with its beautiful guitar and wonderful harmonies. The story the song told itself was a sad one, but the music was amazing. For me this song reminds me of this bittersweet night and of my mother. It also makes me wonder about my ancestors living in Ireland and Scotland and about how they lived way back then when a king could hang a man for feeding his family.
“Dreams” — Fleetwood Mac
My dad introduced me to Fleetwood Mac at a young age, so they have always been a favorite of mine. My first ever concert was a Fleetwood Mac concert that I went to with my father in Atlanta. It was amazing, and I made sure to sing along the entire time! Their music reminds me of road trips with my father at night. The sweet vocals calling to me as the lights of towns and cities fade into the distance. My heart mimicking the strong beats of the songs keeps me in the moment. This specific song was one of about five songs on my dad’s iPod that I would play on repeat because I loved the way it made me feel. I don’t think I understood the sadness of this song as a kid, but I do now. Now I can’t listen to one of their songs without thinking of my dad.
“Fare thee Well” — Oscar Isaac & Marcus Mumford
My mother dragged me along with her to see Inside Llewyn Davis when it came out in theaters, and while I didn’t enjoy the movie as a whole, this song was the only thing I actually wanted to experience again. This song is filled with good wishes for a loved one. It makes me feel grateful for my family and friends as I wish them the best in their lives. This gratitude brought forth by this piece is strong and amplified by the beautiful harmonies the to voices create.
“To Kill a Mockingbird Suite” — Elmer Bernstein
This classic movie based off a timeless book is a fervent favorite in my family. From my brother to Granny, most of my family states this as their all time favorite piece of literature, and while my favorite is another, this piece comes as a close second. This suite from the movie stirs up the feelings of fall as my mother and I enjoy watching this movie around that time of year. The cascading lines of the flutes and other wind instruments evoke the feeling of an autumn breeze. My mother, watching this movie as a child, was often scared by this film, so she loves watching it around Halloween. This story is a powerful one that my family can relate to as we have lived in the South for many years. The prejudice and racism that ran rampant not so long ago scarred this land, and those scars are still seen today.
“Older” — Sasha Sloan
My parents are divorced, but they never had any horrible fights at night or anything like that. However, seeing my parents split like they did taught me a lot. This song evokes those emotions that I feel. As I grow older, it becomes easier to see why my parents needed a divorce. It isn’t easy to love a person forever.
The older I get, the more that I see
My parents aren’t heroes, they’re just like me
And loving is hard, it don’t always work
You just try your best not to get hurt
I used to be mad, but now I know
Sometimes it’s better to let someone go
These lyrics reflect what my own parent’s experiences taught me, and that connection validates my own experiences with the divorce. I do not resent my parents, and I still love them both with all my heart. I understand why they felt the need to let each other go, and they taught me that it is okay to do so.
“Forbidden Colors” — Ryuichi Sakamoto
Piano has always been a favorite of mine. It calms me when I get too anxious or stressed being away from home. In our living room, we have an old piano that came with the house. It is out of tune, but it is a beautiful part of the living room in the end. I learned to play a few songs on that instrument and then more with the help of my friends. I still can’t play the piano, but I will always appreciate it. This song is one I have shared with my family many times. I usually come back home with a list of songs for my family to listen to as I have been obsessed with them all month or so. This piano piece has been in my YouTube history for a solid five months because of how calming it is. I listen to it on repeat as I go to sleep or study. It brings out feelings of home and the comfort I feel when there.
“One Summer’s Day” — Joe Hisaishi
Hayao Miyazaki’s films were a huge part of my childhood. The magic and beauty they held captured my heart as well as the hearts of my family. My brother, Davey, also loves these movies, so we often talk about them together. The greatest aspect of all these movies, however, is the music. Composed by Joe Hisaishi, a true musical genius, the music that connects all these films is stunning. It helps create the magic and wonder each film holds within it, and I don’t think I will ever forget the impact it had on my life. Spirited Away, the film this song is from, was the first Miyazaki film I had ever seen, and we had it on VHS. It changed my young life and introduced a culture to me that I had never experienced before. As one of the first Japanese films I had ever seen, it set me on a path of discovery and exploration in the realm of Japanese culture, and today I am minoring in Japanese at the University of Georgia. It not only connected me with my brother Davey but also with a life long passion.
“In a World of My Own” — Kathryn Beaumont
This song of my childhood recently came back into my life as my mother, brother, and I drove down to Repton, Alabama on our way to Thanksgiving in Orange Beach with our family to see Granddaddy’s old house. As we left the large highway to drive along dirt roads made of bright, red clay, I had this song stuck in my head. My mother and I ended up singing it as we searched for the barn with a tin roof where my grandfather was born. I had been here before a few times, but I had never really appreciated it until this project made me realize how important family history is. It was interesting to see how a childhood favorite of mine, Alice in Wonderland, could suddenly come up at such an important moment to help cement the event in my memory.
“On the Road” — The Tide Rose
A soft acoustic guitar opens this piece, and I am reminded of not only my love for chill tones like this but also of my brother, Liam,who taught himself to play the guitar. Music is able to ignite passion in people and give them aspirations. The song itself makes me wonder how my ancestors felt as they got on a boat and came to America.
Here we go,
on the road somewhere, I don’t know,
but we’re going home,
home forever.
These lyrics really hit me because my ancestors would have been leaving their homeland behind. The sadness and yearning for home that must come with a change this big must have been almost suffocating. The feeling of uncertainty would have been overwhelming as they had no idea exactly what would be there for them. However, as these lyrics are, they must have been filled with hope of a better life here in America. While nothing probably could have healed that sense of displacement, they must have known that they were going to build a new home in New York and find happiness.
“Sons and Daughters” — Allman Brown
This song drives the need in me to provide warmth and comfort for my friends and family. I want to be there for them when they need me as a shoulder to lean on and someone who will listen. It reminds me that my parents and their parents all made sacrifices to build a family. It isn’t easy, and it takes time and dedication. The desire to carry on our legacies is inherent in everyone, and it drives us to put in the hard work necessary to create a caring family.
“Touch the Sky” — Julie Fowlis
This song is a connection to my path in life that is supported by my family. I have dreams and aspirations to chase after and new heights to reach, and this piece’s fast and strong melody make my emotions soar with motivation and hope. It also reminds me that my family will be there with me every step of the way. They support all that I do and want to see me succeed. Family is an important aspect of life that should never be let go of.
