Well in many ways it was another crazy week. From concert arrangements in Miami, to mentoring performing arts and business students at Pembrokeshire & Gower college. Once again I was blown away with the colleges and the professional attitude of the students – brilliant! I’m so privileged to be part of ‘Big Ideas Wales’ (www.business.wales.gov.uk). Get your school /college involved. The results from this inspiring project is simply fantastic.
So here I am writing my column before crashing and starting another week but this week isn’t going to be as crazy as I am mainly being Dad. The next fortnight Myfi and I are home alone as Mum has popped off to Delhi (we are a little jealous even if I do get my own fair chance to travel) We started by cooking a proper Sunday lunch which I haven’t had time to do in months. Gordon Ramsay’s roast beef with all the trimmings plus a few personal add ons made for the perfect Sunday.
So let me try and answer some of your questions:
Tracey Jones has asked me via Facebook what`s my favourite song?
Oh my goodness Tracey this is probably the most difficult question that I will ever have to answer. I love so much music – Puccini, Mozart, Sinatra, Ella, Elton John, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Neil Diamond Caro Emerald etc . I think my favourite piece of music would be the prelude from the final act of La Traviata. My fave song, oh dear this is so difficult – would be ‘Beautiful In My Eyes’ by Joshua Kadison from a stunning album Painted Desert Serenade.
I heard this album in HMV in Singapore and just immediately resonated with it. I think one of the big reasons that any song becomes important to us is due to when we hear it and what is happening. This song still makes me smile and cry. It has so many memories for me.
My second question from Carole “Like any instrument, your voice must require regular maintenance – what does that entail? Also, what is it about a song that makes you want to sing for an audience or recording?
I try my best to exercise my voice daily even if its only for a brief time. However with normal life even this can be difficult and if I don’t use my voice for a day or two I really feel empty and a little depressed. Singing makes you feel alive although it has plenty of difficulties attached to it. As the late great Pavarotti said “if you don’t practice for two days you know, if you don’t practice for three days the audience knows”. So practice!
Choosing repertoire – I love songs that tell stories – songs that make you laugh and songs that make you cry. Tell me about the ones you love and introduce me to new songs.
This article was originally published in the Carmarthen Journal in Mark’s weekly column for the paper.
