This week, I pondered why I sounded so dreadful singing the Sei Ariette by Giuliani, written for voice and guitar/piano. I ran through a checklist in my mind – in tune? tempi? words? Then it occurred to me. To whom, am I singing? I answered this question by imagining a hall full of hundreds of people. And, this was the problem.
Above, we see the masterpiece by Degas. We see intimacy. We see Lorenzo Pagans, a tenor, playing the guitar to Degas’s father who is listening intently.
The next day, I imagined myself, singing to one person who was listening intently. I had no need for egotistical concerns of ‘do they like my sound’ or ‘can they hear my guitar ok?’. Rather, I sang to a person who believed ‘your voice and guitar is enough’. This person had never heard 20th Century music, let alone a rock band. The world was a quieter place. This intimacy in performance demands Bel Canto technique and faith.
I recorded my attempt. I was pleasantly surprised. Giuliani’s Sei Ariette came alive. The songs were elegant. And, I was using a fraction of my voice. It was a revelation. Thanks to Degas.
Deborah Wai Kapohe 