What is life to me without music?

In her second “Grace Notes” column classical crossover contralto Grace Foley asks the question what would life be without music.

‘Che faro senza Euridice?’. This is the title of a stunningly beautiful aria from the opera ‘Orpheo ed Euridice’ by Gluck, and the Italian literally translates to, ‘What will I do without Euridice?’. The late, great contralto Kathleen Ferrier sang the English version with the lyrics, ‘What is life to me without thee?’. I have found myself playing this piece over and over in my head at the moment which is rather strange, given that I haven’t actually sung this aria in many years.

This week it hit me that I have spent the last year asking myself, ‘how would I have survived this pandemic without music?’, ‘what is life to me without music?’, ‘what is life to any of us without music?’.

Last year I saw many artists, including myself, express their anger and hurt at the Arts/Entertainment/Artist being listed as the ‘Top non-essential job’. We asked the public if they could imagine their lives without the Arts? Could our governments imagine it? Could we even survive without it?

You wake in the morning, maybe you listen to music. You put on clothes. Who designed them? You drink coffee out of your favourite cup. Who designed and created it? You listen to the radio or watch television. Is there music playing? Are there actors on screen? Is there music in the ads? Are there graphics on the TV? Who created those? Are there presenters on your favourite TV talk show? Who is doing sound on that show? Who designed the set? Are the government announcing pandemic updates? Are they using microphones and cameras? Who is running that part of the show? Did you enjoy endless TV series and pretty much watch everything on Netflix? Well, take away actors, film crews, set designers etc. etc. and that would be the end of that! Did you tune in to watch your favourite performers give online performances? Perhaps these concerts helped you feel connected to other fans. Perhaps you made new friends at these concerts. Perhaps this interaction with other people saved your mental health. These are only a few examples of just how ESSENTIAL the Arts are and how essential this sector is to the daily continuity of our society as we know it.

While our audiences benefitted from our music during this difficult year, we as musicians will be eternally grateful to our audiences too. You kept us going. You gave us a reason to put concerts together and create new music. Music connects people. The Arts in general connects people. I know for me personally, a daily routine has been a life saver this year and most of that routine centers around music. The last time I stood on a stage in front of an audience was in December 2019. Am I scared to do this again for the first time in so long? Yes… but I am far more excited than I am nervous. I believe that if I had stopped performing and recording and creating during this pandemic, I would be just plain terrified to stand in front of an audience again! But, because of the support of my fans, and the pride I take in the art I have created in these difficult circumstances, I now feel more ready than ever to stand at that microphone and entertain you.

‘What is life to me without music?’. I hope I never find out.