Sing me to Heaven

For your viewing pleasure...

Fields of Athenry

An Online Vocal Recital

Since the last post was really boring... you can watch this. I've always said I was going to post a recording of me singing. And my dad has signed us up on YouTube now, so here it is! I'm sorry the resolution isn't very good- I'm not sure what happened there.

If God Be For Us Who Can Be Against Us? from the third section of the Messiah by G. F. Handel

Copyright © 2008 by GraceElizabeth

Something New

There was a new arrival at our home not long ago. Must've been almost three weeks ago now. Sorry I've neglected to post. Anyway, this new... edition is something I (and Emily too)  have been hoping for for a while, and it was greeted happily once it was found, though it did take me a little while to become genuinely enthusiastic about its charms. It's really a very satisfacory specimin of its kind. Because of its winning personality, and an eagerness to please, not to mention a lovely mahogany skin-tone and rich timbre, I've grown attatched to my new cello.

Here it is, in all its comeliness, though not in all its glory, since that comes only when you hear it sing. It is shaped and curved very beautifully, though.

I love the 'F holes', as they are called. Unfortunately, since I'm only renting it, it's not brand new, and bears the marks of some rather careless person who was over-enthusiastic in their down-bowing. (Drawing the bow to the right) There are a lot of nicks on the right side. But, other than that, it's perfectly fine! I hope I'll soon be able to play it better. It is willing to please, but it helps for the cellist to keep her fingers un-tangled. My left hand, the one that controls the fingerings, needs limbering up, too. My hands are pretty small, and I've discoverd that there are some muscles that are needed for cello that you don't often use elsewhere. You should see me practice! I have to wring out both my hands (holding the bow is taxing too) every once in a while, because they get so stiff. However, I am happy to say that I can coax some wonderfully rich sounds out of it at times, and I'm expert at Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star! (Haha, give me a break; I've only had two lessons!)

I like it very much. :-) But it's interesting how similar 'cello' sounds to 'jello'.

~Grace

Copyright © 2008 by GraceElizabeth

Results

Thanks so much for praying for me, everyone!! All of your comments were so encouraging, and I'm blessed to have such friends. :-)

I got 2nd alternate at the audition. There were actually 5 people who 'passed', and there are two alternates. So if two of those 5 drop out (get sick, go on vacation, disappear off the face of the earth, anything), then I'll get to take the 2nd one's place and audition in the next round.

So anyways, on the one hand, I'm disappointed that I didn't make it in and live up to my record from last year. But on the other hand, I know there's a reason for this, and though I may never know it, I trust God to have everything work out for HIS glory! I'll miss being at State, but I'm Ok with it. ;-) There's always next year! ;-P

Thanks again for praying, and I'll reply to all your comments when I get back from Thanksgiving vacation! I'll be 16 when I return! And C.S.Lewis would have been 110, and Lousia May Alcott would have been 176. Yep, I share a birthday with two famous authors! Neat, huh?

All we Texans hope y'all have a great Thanksgiving!

~Grace

Copyright © 2008 by GraceElizabeth

The joys and trials of being a singer

Everybody like my new template? I had some fun getting it transfered... it's remarkable that it hasn't been deleted in the process. ;-)

Now for the news. This Monday night, I will be going through an ordeal of sorts. Those who have been through auditions before know how I feel.   Those who haven't will wonder why I'm making this a big deal. ;-)

This will be the second in a series of three auditions to determine the members of the 2009 Texas All-State Choir. At the first audition- Region level- something like 24 singers are chosen from each voice part to advance. I made 3rd chair (third place) in that. This Monday night is the Pre-Area audition. The same singers who made Region will re-audition, but this time, only 6 will be chosen for each voice part.

I have to go in a room to audition three choir pieces, but I'll be by myself with only the CD accompaniment for aid. Our pieces are Alleluia by Paul Basler (for women only), Cantate Domino from the Dorchester Canticles by Tarik O'Reagan, and Dona Nobis Pachem from the B minor Mass by J.S.Bach. And, after that, we have to do sight-singing, which is basically that: singing an 8-measure tune by sight.

Now those who know me are saying, "Hey look, Grace, you did this last year and did fine. So how can you be nervous at all?"

But, see, that's the problem. I did it last year as a Freshman, never expecting to make All-State, and, wonder of wonders, I did. And it was so gloriously amazing that I want to be there again, be swamped in music for a week again, sing my heart out from 8am to 9pm again. *sigh*
So I'm nervous. Not as desperately nervous as I was a few weeks ago; thankfully I'm much better prepared now. But I can't help falling back and forth between confidence, and fearing to hope too much. You must know the feeling. When there's something you want enough, you can't help hoping, but you're so vulnerable if you do.

So I'm trying not to think about it, just to trust. In the end, it doesn't matter whether I make it or not. It only matters that I do my best. Tell me that on Monday! Also, remind me how much I LOVE singing!!

I'd appreciate your prayers, and also for my fellow singers who also are suffering from the jitters. ;-)

~Grace

Copyright © 2008 by GraceElizabeth

Sing me to Heaven...

Mara Aure, my friends! (Thank you Uruviel, for your knowledge of Elvish!)

Well, I decided to share with you the meaning of my blog title, because it does have a meaning, and, no, I didn't make it up!

Sing me to Heaven is the title of a song, actually, which I first heard when I was 10, and have been drawn to ever since. I especially love music with a sense of mystery and longing, plus a gorgeous melody line! This song is such a piece of music. I love everything about it; the music itself, the lyrics, the title... I could go on about it for paragraphs, but I think it's best to let you judge for yourself. Here is a banner I found with some of the lyrics. I put it on my sidebar, but you can't exactly read the words, it's so small. So here it is, bigger!

If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby.

If you would win my heart, sing me a love song.

If you would mourn me and bring me to God, sing me a requiem,

Sing me to heaven.

I believe it may be sung by somebody dying, but that's not the point, since we're not trying to be practical! ;-) The lyrics are still lovely. Anyway, it's an absolutely beautiful song. Here's a recording of it, sung by a very good choir. I encourage you to listen to it and enjoy this piece as I have!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMfDqfKSM54

EDIT: I had to remove the embedded video because it made my page look horrible on Firefox. If anyone has any tips on how to embed YouTube vids with Firefox, please let me know! Thanks.

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I was tagged by Striker:

1.Favorite color: Blue

2.Least favorite color: Well, probably burnt orange. I have nothing against the Longhorns, mind you. Although my dad went to A&M.

3.Color of pants: This is a strange question. Are you asking what color I prefer pants to be, or what color my pants are, or what color all pants are in general?

4.Color of shirt: Another strange question. My current shirt has pink and green stripes, if you really want to know.

5.Color of favorite CD: The lable is gold and the bottom is silver.

6.Color of dream car: I'd be happy to drive our blue van, thanks.
 
7.Color that you want your mom to dye her hair: Well, I would prefer my mom's hair to stay living.

8.Color of computer: Black and silver.

9.Color of best friends brother's eyes: I'm sorry. I really don't notice such things. My baby brother's eyes are blue, and I guess my sisters are my best friends!

10.Color of dream pet: I don't dream of having any particular pet. So sorry.

11.Color of phone/ipod: My phone/ipod is nonexistent.

12.Color of the last thing you ate: Brown. Chocolate ice cream!

13.Find what color you answered with the most: Blue

EDIT: Rats, I forgot to tag people. I tag... everyone who has freckles.

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On another 'note', Jocelyn Dixon at A Pondering Heart has posted this week's Homeschool Carnival! I registered my last post, and there are a lot of other great homeschool-related links, so go on and check it out!

Namarie...

~Grace

Copyright 2008 by GraceElizabeth