Finding Inspiration for the Holidays

Christmas is that magical time of year when happiness twinkles all around us. Pretty decorations, special foods, gifts, gatherings with family and friends, we pull out all the stops to awaken that joy of the holidays. The general jubilation can also have the opposite effect on those not in step with the season, because as I realized early on, you must find your own inspiration in life. Merriment doesn’t come from the outside.

Winter decor – wooden luminary lamp, planter and tealight holders by Pencil and Saw

Many years ago, I had an organ job in a small church. Well, it was one of numerous organist positions I’ve had. The church didn’t have a choir, which made things easier as it cut out the weekly rehearsal. However, we had soloists for special occasions, singers of all shapes and sizes. I never knew what to expect as Reverend Nancy had a vast reach. The musician in question would call me up to arrange a convenient rehearsal time. With some, it was a huge challenge as their only knowledge of the musical selection du jour was through a recording, which turned out to be completely different from the sheet music I was handed at the rehearsal. There was one regular who would have given Ethel Merman a run for her money. The fearless soprano expected a full orchestral pounding out of fanfares in support of her rafter-shaking “Hosannas,” and only holy divination knew when she was going to move from one note to the next.

Being ultra-prepared was the only way of getting through such performances, and I hoped that the congregation, at least, felt some inspiration, if only through sheer intensity of stamina.

One Christmas, I got a call from a singer, who happened to be blind. I never asked if she learned music through Braille, by listening or rote. I assumed one of the latter, as I couldn’t google “Braille music” at the time. I don’t recall what she sang, but I knew the church windowpanes would be safe. We had a pleasant first conversation, although she stopped me in my tracks at the end of it when she said that she was looking forward to working with such a beautiful person. Of course, that’s not something you hear every day, and I hesitated. How would she know what I looked like? Or anything about my inner soul? I managed to stammer out something to that effect, and she said that she had been listening to me throughout the phone conversation and that by the way I pronounced my words, she could see my expressions and when I was smiling. Hmm… would she know if someone was wearing pants on a Zoom call?

She didn’t sing “Do You Hear What I Hear?” that day, but she was definitely an inspiration.

Coro di fanciulle – Choir of Young Girls by Angelo Brando

Several years ago, I was asked to “lead the singing” at a memorial service for a member of the Anglo-Italian Club in Reggio Calabria. I had attended meetings and given numerous presentations for the group, and I didn’t want to let them down, although I in no way consider myself a singer. They identified the song as the one that was played when the ship was going down in the movie Titanic. At that point, I was able to google the question and discovered that it was the hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” of which I was familiar. They printed the words from the Internet – quite a few verses – but didn’t give me the musical score. I listened to a couple versions on YouTube. It was a simple melody but a little tricky in its repetitiveness, so I practiced in order to make sure that I wouldn’t lead them astray.

Chiesa degli Ottimati

The location of the service was the Chiesa degli Ottimati (Church of the Nobles), one of the oldest religious institutions in Reggio, sitting cattycorner to the Aragon castle. Although several antiquities remain, such as the Byzantine-style mosaic flooring, as is the case with most of the city, the present structure was reconstructed in the twentieth century after the 1908 earthquake. At the appropriate moment, I was motioned up to the pulpit from my place in the first row. Of course, I had thought it would have been a more casual situation from the area by my pew, but I couldn’t very well have snuck out the back at that point. I went up the steps, took my place behind the microphone and began to sing. No one joined in. Luckily, the a cappella voice was nicely enhanced by the natural reverberation of the antique flooring. It was a memorial, so I had chosen a slow pace, and once started, I couldn’t very well go “up tempo” on the hymn. I briefly thought of concluding after the first verse, but my friend Luisa seemed to have so much confidence in my ability. She looked up at me as if it had all gone as planned and that the plan was multiple verses.

Medieval flooring in the Chiesa degli Ottimati in Reggio

Long story short, I was prepared and went with the flow. I hadn’t waited for inspiration, although beautiful surroundings and encouraging friends can certainly help.

Amidst the twinkle and glitter, family, nativity scenes, comfort food and a little quality time, I hope you can go with the moment and find inspiration this holiday season.

I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”

Calabria: The Other Italy and Basilicata: Authentic Italy by Karen Haid

Read about the fascinating Calabrian region in my book Calabria: The Other Italy, described by Publisher’s Weekly as “an intoxicating blend of humor, joy, and reverence for this area in Italy’s deep south,” and explore Calabria’s northern neighbor in my book Basilicata: Authentic Italy, “recommended to readers who appreciate all things Italian” by the Library Journal.

Join me on one of my small-group Calabria Tours (I have three itineraries) or on my Basilicata Tour of Calabria’s northern neighbor.

Follow me on social media: Basilicata Facebook page, Calabria: The Other Italy’s Facebook page, Karen’s Instagram and Karen’s Twitter for beautiful pictures and information.
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CALABRIA: The Other Italy and BASILICATA: Authentic Italy make great gifts!