I demand to know who I have to talk to , to have these weekends slowed down?!?!? I have another long week ahead, with probably some more over time. I enter the week very melancholy after saying goodbyes to many for another year, after seeing good friends and members of the Woods Community this weekend, yet another reminder that summer is coming to an end. It always takes me time to let summer go. But don't worry kids, I had a lovely time and ended the season with a "bang". And with a full moon approaching, let us hope the GOP crazies don't get any crazier!!! I still worry about how this election is going to pan out.
While I'm away for the weekend, in this post, I'll share a guest with you all each week, and you tell me in only three words what come to mind. This week one I grew up listening too at my grandmother's house, and one who would have been 102 yesterday.
Yma Sumac was a Peruvian soprano. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous proponents of exotica music. Sumac became an international success based on her extreme vocal range, which was said to be "well over five octaves at the peak of her singing career. Sumac recorded an extraordinarily wide vocal range of 5 octaves, 3 notes and a semitone ranging from E2 to Bb7. Recording restoration expert John H. Haley favorably compared Súmac's tone to opera singers Isabella Colbran, Maria Malibran, and Pauline Viardot. He described Súmac's voice as not having the "bright penetrating peal of a true coloratura soprano", but having in its place "an alluring sweet darkness...virtually unique in our time". I have always loved her music, as it brings memories of childhood back from my grandmothers house, who raised me till middle school, when both my parent were working. Travel Penguin's post got me to listening to Yma today, so why not share it. I can't think of a more beautiful sound flooding the joint on this sunny morning.
Well, it seems the handsome Fearsome Beard has bestowed upon me the lovely Music and Words award. I was very surprised and touch by his kindness. I don't always respond to all these awards, but some are fun to answer, as it's a good way for readers to learn more about their host, things which may never be revealed in a post. So I had to take his offer. And a humble and HUGE THANK YOU to you Fearsome! I myself have never really thought of myself as musically inclined personally, I never did learn any music instruments, although, once or twice I did dabble with the skin flute. My background was always in art, painting, interior design and drawing. But I love music very much and couldn't live without it. When not viewing tv, I always have music on, more so even then tv. And I like all kinds, Pop, Dance and electronica, jazz, classical, opera, Big Band, hell, Gershwin and Mancini sometimes make me swoon. So, here are the questions Fearsome left for me.
What does music mean to you? This is a fairly difficult question. There really is so many reasons.Music wakes me up, gets me going, and is a way to add some more awesomeness to every day. It's a way to express and release emotions. I love music that on top of the fun beats, it can carry a message that is relative to real life situations. Music is a nice thing you can listen to when you want to get out and just go into your own world and my way to escape from the real world and just listen and let myself go. Music is freedom. It’s everything. Music connects the world and different cultures. Music calms me down, lifts me up and always makes me feel a certain way, and explains things when words fail. Music means something that’s inspiring and can match your moods.
What is your first music related memory? My first memory of music was when I was probably five or six. My grandmother practically raised me when I was young when my parents were both working. Many a time over the years, she always had music playing, and the one singer I heard many times over, and I believe one of her favorites, was Peruvian-American soprano,Yma Sumac. She totally sucked me in with her alluring vocals.
What was the first album you ever purchased yourself? I really can't be sure. But it was either a Dolly Parton Greatest Hits, or Shawn Cassidy's Do Run Run!!! And yes, I had the hair of both of them, at some point or other.
What is the latest music you purchased? Most of my music comes from I-Tunes these days. I have to really like an artists to buy a hand held cd. But the last two I picked up were Adele's newest release and Lana Del Rey's last cd.
What is the very last song you listened to before writing this post? Be honest!Oh no. It was Mae West singing A Guy What Takes his Time, from a three disk set of fabulous female singers. I can really understand where she comes from here.
Now the best part is I get to bestow the lovely award on. Now, I not sure who has received this award and who hasn't, but I would be very interested in seeing what these four fabulous bloggers would have to say when they receive this award, if they are so inclined to answer.
Whilest I am still going through pictures from the weekend for a post and wrapping work up, I thought I would entertain you all with the talent of the stunning Yma Sumac, the Queen of Exotica, who was born on the tenth of September 1922 in the peruvian city Ichocán.She had a vocal range of four and a half octaves, when she was younger she was able to sing six octaves! Yma captivated me with her exquisite exotic beauty, her proud carriage, and her unfathomably exotic voice.I spent most every week in the summers with my grandmother who had several of Yma Sumac’s albums, where I would play in the yard listening to her voice pouring out the back windows, staring at her picture in wonderment of how any being could be so beautiful. Somewhere there is a photograph of me in my grandmothers back yard holding myself in replica of Yma’s noble manner. She lived to 86. The Peruvian Songbird left a magical artistic work and a life full of alleged mysterious.
Now if y'all just hush, we'll take a listen.............
