Singing Landscapes
15th May 2014
Singer, poet, artist and calligrapher Sue Flory recently took part in the debut performance of Landscapes. In homage to the project, she not only drew the featured image, but also wrote this lovely poem about her experience of singing Landscapes.
SINGING LANDSCAPES by Sue Flory
(Preparing the Canvas)
Sounds, like art create.
Create aural
pictures and images
conjured out of nothing.
Nothing: silence,
empty page, blank canvas
to be peopled by notes.
Notes: crotchets
minims and quavers
waiting to be realised,
given voice,
to live in time,
to resonate in space.
Opiates to the ears.
Solo voice,
one melody,
single line of beauty
like a sketched monochrome.
(Painting the Score)
Oh yes, we can indeed rejoice
in that bright and soaring voice.
But, add some more to that one
to gain a greater depth of tone.
For music even more divine
weave in the golden alto line;
harmonising some sienna shades
giving mountains, valleys, glades.
Tenors bring a warmth of sound;
in burnt umber this is found.
The underlying, anchoring hue
comes from the basses’ Prussian Blue.
With singers’ palette now at hand
composers can create a sound
as varied as a landscape view
with texture, colour, vocal hue.
Yes, sounds, like art can create
a work of art that’s truly great.
Mellifluous beauty will abound
in a landscape of delicious sound.