(image credits to Tiny Buddha)

just when I thought I’d lost my love for choral music and choral works, this lovely piece came along into my life, and refuses to leave. it’s stuck in my head and I can’t wait to sing it in June with the alumni. give it a listen. it’s so tragically beautiful even though the ending is oddly happy.

also the title of this song perfectly describes how I feel about choral singing. granted, I thought I’d totally given up on choral singing after a keenly growing interest in musical theatre and classical operatic voice (solo singing). I don’t even know why I decided to join the alumni choir— maybe I’m too used to actually having a choir to sing with and not singing with one, despite being a welcome change, felt odd. perhaps this welcome change is why I decided not to go back to sing with the vocal consort.

I really needed a change in environment and the alumni choir has been the perfect change for me— the members and group dynamic does not change as rapidly as that in consort because the people there hold different values and are old timers, and the new members that come in now and later will always be someone I/my batchmates know because, after all, we are the alumni and we are there to support the college choir thus we will always get to know the newer members. I like this feeling of consistency and positive changes that the alumni choir brings and I’m so thankful for the privilege to join them. on that note, please do come and support me in my first time singing with the alumni choir this year! ‘an evening with friends’ this year will be on the first of June at 1730 hours (I know it’s a little early, but hey, no harm saying something about it now :D)

enjoy the eargasm:
(I Love My Love, sung by The Cambridge Singers)

abroad as I was walking, one evening in the spring,
I heard a maid in Bedlam so sweetly for to sing;
her chains she rattled with her hands,
and thus replied she:
“I love my love because I know my love loves me!

o cruel were his parents who sent my love to sea,
and cruel was the ship that bore my love from me;
yet I love his parents since they’re his although
they’ve ruined me:

I love my love because I know my love loves me!

with straw I’ll weave a garland,
I’ll weave it very fine;
with roses, lilies, daisies,
I’ll mix the eglantine;
and I’ll present it to my love
when he returns from sea.

for I love my love, because I know my love loves me.”

just as she sat there weeping,
her love he came on land.
then hearing she was in Bedlam,
he ran straight out of hand.
he flew into her snow-white arms,
and thus replied he:

“I love my love, because I know my love loves me.”

she said: “my love, don’t frighten me;
are you my love or no?”
“o yes, my dearest Nancy,
I am your love, also I am return’d to
make amends for all your injury;
I love my love because I know my love loves me.”

so now these two are married,
and happy may they be like turtle
doves together, in love and unity.
all pretty maids with patience wait
that have got loves at sea;

I love my love, because I know my love loves me.
— I Love My Love, Gustav Holst