Song Sparrow spotted on Otter Creek Audubon April Bird Walk Photo Credit: Holly Fulton

I sing with Wellspring, a hospice singing group in our area. Last week, a small group of us, including a harp and guitar player, sang to a friend with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy body Dementia who had decided not to eat. She had previously been a member of this group, and she sang all the words to “Tis’ a Gift to be Simple” and “Edelweiss.” She smiled. She was glad we were there. We felt that we were all inside a liminal space. On the edge of death. Still in life together, singing. Our friend died a few days after we were with her, peacefully and with her family around her. It is a privilege to sing to and with people at the end of their life. It is joyful, and true, and comforting.

I have loved singing most of my life. My father had a beautiful tenor voice and sang at the piano as he played chords. I sang to my father at his bedside as he was dying. This was before I knew about hospice singing groups. It just seemed like a good thing to do.

After singing with a high school and college choir long ago, I took up singing with groups again several years ago. A young choral director, Ronnie Romano, inspired me. He was the director of both the Unitarian Universalist choir and Wellspring. I joined both groups because Ronnie is a highly skilled, welcoming, exuberant director who brings the best out of everyone. I wanted to be a part of the joy that he inspired in singers and brought to audiences.

Michael Cadwell, Ashley’s brother, playing for his niece’s wedding, 2024

Ronnie currently directs the Middlebury College Community Chorus that I joined two years ago. Last week we sang the first of two spring concerts with the Middlebury High School Chorus. Both choruses studied Vivaldi’s Gloria, composed in 1715. It is truly a glorious piece of music. We were 120 voices ages 13 to 80. What a thrill it was!

We also all learned Harry Belafonte’s “The Wave,” which we sang and taught to the audience. I love this vintage protest song with a lively beat and singable melody. Ronnie took over the piano and we raised the roof. The concert’s title was “Choosing Joy” which is an important act right now in the world.

Recent research shows that singing, particularly in groups, offers profound physical, mental, and social benefits. Swedish researcher, Bjorn Vickoff, at the University of Gothenberg led research indicating that singing in groups improves heart health, strengthens the immune system, and lowers stress.

Babies find their voices by singing and cooing. Birdsong uplifts us. Whales sing to communicate. People have been singing since we have been on the planet. If you want to communicate with someone whose language you don’t speak, try singing. We are all moved by song. Music is in our DNA, in our bones, and in our breath.

Something to consider. Go out into the world and sing. It will give joy to you and to those you meet along the way.

Singing

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