Raise your voice and stretch your soul

"How I love Ragu, how I love Ragu on cheeeeese!!!!"

"Excuse me, dear," said the woman sitting next to me, as we belt out Leonard Bernstein's 'Chichester Psalms' at the top of our lungs, "I think you have your words a bit confused."

"Oh, you mean these garbled letters under all these little black things?"

"Those are called notes."

"Of course they are. I really can read music, you know. After all, I play six instruments, if you count my kazoo. But I must admit that I am having trouble recognizing any of these words, though."

"That's because they're Hebrew. Now if it wouldn't trouble you too much, I think you should try to sing them as Bernstein wrote them -- 'U-l' u-mim

yeh'-gu, U'-l-u-mim, yeh'gu-u rik,'" said my musical compatriot, refocusing on her own score.

In case you're wondering about all this high-brow singing business, I'd better explain. Last year about this time, I noticed a small news release announcing that the Mansfield Symphony Choir would be holding open auditions for potential chorus members.

Being of an optimistic bent, and reasonable talent, I decided to give it a try. Hey, the worst they could tell me was, "Sorry honey, but we don't need any voices quite like yours." (If this writing business has done nothing else, it has helped to steel me for rejection.)

Sooooo, I proceeded to prepare my try-out selection.

I think I should mention here, that although I have done some solo work in the past, my entire musical repertoire of late has encompassed solitary concerts given in the grand amphitheater of stately pines located deep in the heart of Mohican Memorial State Forest, which surrounds our property.

If a body can't let loose and SING out there, where can she? No one but deer, raccoon, turkeys and coyotes to protest.

"I sing because I'm happyyyyy, I sing because I'm FREEEEEEEEE . . ."

I ask you, what self-respecting varmint could possibly object to those lyrics? (To the caterwauling, maybe, but the words -- never!)

Besides, they must be getting used to this Crackpot invading their tranquil haven and periodically exploding into song.

If tripping down this rocky life's-path of mine has taught me nothing else, I have learned that in order to stay healthy I need to release all my pent-up emotions. Otherwise, this "pot" is apt to "crack" once again.

And what better way to do that, than in song?

You know the old saying, "Music calms the savage beast." I'd like to amend that statement just a bit and also say that, "music can rebuild the shattered soul."

Well, you already know the rest of the story: I tried out for the Symphony Chorus, and wonder of wonders, I actually made it!

After surviving my first, rocky, concert season as a member of that cultured chorale (along with another try-out session), I find myself vocalizing with them again, as we sing selected pieces in three, different concerts with the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra.

But when this year's Christmas concert rolls around, I WILL be ready. You see, last year no one bothered to tell us newbies that the chorus gussied up its traditional, all-black dress with red bow-ties for the men and a red lapel-flower for the women.

Ten minutes before performance time I had to pinch a poinsettia from a flower arrangement in the lobby to pin onto my person. (Hey, when it comes to creative scrounging, I'm a pro!)

I must admit, however, that the maiden concert of this current season, featuring the aforementioned piece written in Hebrew, has pushed my second-soprano voice to its limits -- as well as testing the bounds of my vocabulary.

"Bo-u Sh'a-rav b'-to-dah, Ha-tsei-ro-tav Bit'-hi-lah…"

"Spare me, please, dear! Maybe you should just stick to 'La la la's' for now," said my choral cohort.

Far be it from me not to comply with another's request.

"La-la, la-la, la Laaaaaa, la-la-la-la-la laaaa!"

Forgive me, Leonard Bernstein. I promise to do better by performance time!

By the way, if you're interested in soaking up a bit of culture at the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield, call (419) 522-2726 for ticket information about the upcoming Christmas Gala on Dec. 9 and 10.

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