Sublime lullabies to sing home to…
Songs for Coming Home; Lullabies and Blessings
Musings on a singing workshop led by Helen Diaz…
“The ache for home lives in all of us.” — Maya Angelou
I was already captivated by this image Helen chose for the advertising. The depth of the love between mother and child. There was no question I would go.
Attending this beautiful day workshop alongside 39 others, I was keen for a day of soothing songs. It was indeed, a balm for the soul. The day was glorious, the venue sublime, the songs warmhearted and rich.
Helen’s thoughts:
The Absurdistan community provide an out of the way, but truly beautiful aesthetic and acoustic venue, alongside generosity in hosting and catering for their guests.
This was the second year that I led an acapella singing day at Absurdistan; perhaps it may continue as an annual event?
It was a full day of lullabies and blessings, sung with the assembled group of 40 singers; songs old and new from the UK, Croatia, Karelia, Taizé and New Zealand.
Workshops are a treat for a song leader like myself. The singers self-select and so arrive willing to attend fully and offer their voices.
“The ache for home lives in all of us.” — Maya Angelou
I taught everyone the melodies; to provide a way in and still complete experience for less confident singers but also because melody is glorious and is the ‘heart’ of a song that eases the “ache.”
Some of us learned rich harmonies; to extend our musicality and add ‘complex flavours’ to the tunes.
We filled the hall to the rafters, with our uniquely human music.
the space had sublime acoustics
This particular song theme expressing the love and intimate moment between parent and child, is potent - bringing memories back of soothing my own children, and in turn, reminding me of times of being soothed.
We gave ourselves permission to take a few hours out of life to slow down and deepen.
There was indeed the stirring sense of 'homecoming’, with songs reaching back into my own folk ancestry - a recognition in my bones…
The balm created when a group of people come together to sing with soul is healing and rejuvenating, and Helen, in her characteristically generous nature, gifted us a handful of carefully curated treasures to ‘ease the ache’ and take home.
Songs for coming Home.
Anna Pendred