Among other things, I’m a choral singer. In musical terms, “polyphonic” is music with multiple independent melodies occurring at the same time, resulting in rich, complex harmonies. Kind of like life, I think. And this blog, I hope.
A Polyphonic Life is my blog, which I also publish on Substack. I’ve returned to blogging after a hiatus because writing brings my great joy. This blog explores history, politics, writing, music, nature, faith, food, technology, culture, and other things that interest me. I try to be optimistic and reflective in my writing, to hold up the good work of others, and share resources that I hope add value to my readers.
Spring Cleaning
A new post from A Polyphonic Life: Spring Cleaning. It’s about home improvement, keys, and Holy Week music. I hope you’ll read and subscribe.
Choir Notes
Choir has taught me to make “better noise”, but also to listen more closely. We sing a lot of a capella pieces. We stand in a semi-circle as we rehearse, watching one another, listening intently, and adjusting our voices as needed. It is a sublime experience, unparalleled.
This is a lesson that works for singing and nearly every situation in life: Listen closely, and then adjust (my voice, my contribution, my changed understanding) to create something even better.
Intentions for the New Year
I chose some key words to guide my intentions, words I’m uttering as a daily affirmation and prayer: Flow, Ease, Grace, Stretch, Consistency, Shine.
I’m determined to flow through the days, to accomplish my work with ease (mostly), to extend more grace to others (and myself), to stretch myself (mentally, spiritually, and physically), to be more consistent in my good habits, and to help others shine (forever the cheerleader).
You’ve got mail
54 years ago 8-year old me wrote a birthday note to my dad. It found him. He saved it, and it has found me again.