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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Note (02/07/13)
“Oh!” Excitedly leaning into my husband Paul, “I just love this song” I loudly whispered with ecstasy rising in my heart. The bright projection of the lyrics displayed high on the wall in front of us. It was the only light in the dark chapel as the music began to play.

I readied myself, breathing in a full chest of air, for the song that would soon burst forth. The rest of the congregation began to sing the melodious words, and I, with gusto, let out a peculiar note all my own. It was somewhere between the melody and harmony, but failing to agree with either one. It seemed to bound out of my throat, taking on a life of its own, loud and clear for all the angels to hear.

The man standing in front of me turned around with a startled expression, as if I had just made a bomb threat. Paul turned his face slightly towards me with a tender smile and gently patted my hand placed on the pew in front of us. The man turned back around to face ahead, as I decreased my volume.

I have always been a first soprano with an ear for the melody, so that is what I have always sung. However, now, my spirit is on a quest for new horizons as my voice is no longer able to hit the high notes. So I venture in my mind, “I’ll learn to sing harmony!” Well, the problem with that is, I really don’t have the ear for it nor find the right note unless I am sitting near someone who does. Therefore, I struggle, wavering somewhere between the notes, in an ocean of despair.

Please bear with me now as I share with you the relation I find between music and writing.

Music evokes so many emotions in me, and I find that good writing does the same. Writing has a tone, a rhythm, sometimes a rhyme. The mood it sets and the impression it leaves on the reader is so much like one of a song.

I am often uncertain which chords to use. There is music in a story that resonates in the soul if wisely written. Taking a simple sentence and shaping it with the appropriate nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. can make it ring or, it may lay flat on the page without making any impact. So, I go into my trusty Thesaurus asking myself, ”mmm…what word shall I use here?” To me, a single word can make all the difference in the world. It can make the writing either pop or flop.

It is similar to writing a song with lame lyrics, bad singing, and musical instrumentation that are off beat vs. something of divine inspiration...
…something that rings with beauty… Ah, the quest of a Christian writer.

Therefore, I aspire to find the right notes in writing, singing both melody and harmony. Then, God willing, I will add the piano, violin, French horn, and maybe the harmonica (I’m not sure about that one yet)… definitely not the cymbals, but an occasional drum roll might be okay.

To conclude, I will state that, it is my endeavor, through writing, to sing and play music for the heart, and just maybe, I will hit the right note.
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This article has been read 944 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sandra Wells
02/16/13
I can't sing melody or harmony, my voice could likely chase mice from rafters. I however love music and writing. Good music can lift my soul when I can barely see up, inspire me, guide me, make me smile, laugh, and even hope. I loved the way you connected the written word with music. Both if done well can touch souls, move hearts, strengthen us when we are weak, mend our wounds,inspire us and give us hope, as well as make us smile and laugh. You did this for me
Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
02/17/13
You hit the right note with me. What a delightful read!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/20/13
Oh this was a delight to read. You did a grand job of pulling me into the story. I can't carry a tune in a bucket. Though people tell me I can harmonize quite nicely. I will often hang my head and mutter I don't even totally understand how one harmonizes unless it be by accident! I delighted in the way you compared it to writing. Now that made sense to my tone deaf brain. This was a harmonious (that means really good and the first half complemented the second half, right? :)) read.
Susan Montaperto
02/20/13
I enjoyed reading your notes about music and writing very much. You hit just the right notes. Keep writing.
God Bless.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/22/13
Congratulations on ranking 10th in level two!!
Sandra Wells
02/22/13
Congratulations Francie on taking 10th place out of 20. Cool!:) Keep writing!
Judith Gayle Smith-Owens Vitouswykegardinerclark
03/01/13
Congratulations! May God bless you richly . . .
Catherine Craig
03/06/13
This was easy to identify with! Found myself thinking - "Can I still hit those notes?" Fanciful well-written piece tying things together neatly at the end. Notes and words. Will have to think about that one. God Bless you.