Singers Gonna Sing
In email and social media exchanges this week, I (again) am thinking about the way singers go about doing their thing and how that affects their (our) wellbeing.
In an exchange with my friend Greg Sandow (composer and cultural theorist extraordinaire) and beautiful singer-colleague badass Elisabeth Holmertz—I wrote this:
Singers should be trained to ask themselves firstly:
Is this music worthy of my voice?
Can I honestly and authentically gift my voice to this project? Is the project deserving of the contribution of my talents, time, and energy? What is my relationship with the composer? The text? (whose words am I singing?—whose words are being put in my mouth? No kidding there). What is my relationship with the company, project, producer? Will I be 'heard’? (that, is valued)—these ideas are the missing piece of singer training.
Singers are not disposable tools for use to realize someone else's vision. Our artistry is embodied and requires a healthy environment of respect and valuation.
Can you imagine if that was something a voice teacher or conservatory or voice department taught? My singing teachers Lois Alba and Katherine Ciesinski certainly clued me in to these ideas and I’m forever grateful that they did.
I’ll put it more simply: don’t sing music that sucks.
I love what Elisabeth adds, ‘Are you sharing your voice with the right people?” — and — “We (most of us singers) are raised (in my education) to do only as I’m told, and to always try to figure out what someone else (composer, conductor, teacher) wants from me and my voice. As soon as it got too personal it was wrong. Done with that!’
YES!
“Don’t play music that isn’t important to you, it poisons your relationship to music.”
Misha singing at the silos SITE Gallery at Sawyer Yards. Photo: Lillian Warren. Background gorgeous ceramic installation by Jessica Kreutter.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
ensemble in residence for Sculpture Month Houston
Site Gallery Houston (MAP)
At the Silos at Sawyer Yards
Thanks so much to everyone who has been supporting the art and music of Sculpture Month—we have 2 more live performances: November 4 & 18 - 3pm.
The Misha Penton Collective is project-based collaborative of musicians, composers, and performing artists spearheaded by Misha Penton.
Misha Penton Collective is Sculpture Month Houston 2023 music ensemble in residence. Experience voice, guitar, and electronic ambient, textural, and spacious music to accompany the visual art installations throughout the sonorous Silos at Sawyer Yards.
Misha Penton, voice. George Heathco, guitars. Chris Becker, laptop.
Performance Dates, Saturdays:
October 14 & 21
November 4 & 18
Performances at 3pm after curator Volker Eisele leads an exhibit tour from 2pm-3pm. FREE.