Jane's Blog

Reflexions on June 25

2009-06-25T14:00:00.004-04:00

Talent is a gift from an Almighty power and the circumstance and ability to express that talent is a gift to an Almighty power!

Verdi in Verdi's Own Country - Spiritual Identity

2009-06-05T14:14:00.005-04:00

Verdi sung in Italy, and Verdi's own native earth, ignites in the Italian audiences an uncanny identification with their own communal spirit. No holds barred! Absolutely none! And Verdi's uncanny technical understanding of the human voice and ingenuity and canny understanding of the expression of human emotion, to say nothing of his radar for sending a message, are greatest exemplified in Verdi's operas. Just pick one! And, what greater opera than Verdi's Requiem? What greater libretto than a mass? I savor Verdi's delicious serving of vocal challenge amidst the healthiest of artistic and musical palates. To again be singing Verdi, this time in northern Italy, is a natural and high wire experience. Really icing on the veritable cake, and I do love that stunning cake!

Spirit be joyful

2009-05-04T08:59:00.001-04:00

Compiled, edited, translated, and transliterated by Jane Marsh, Spirit be joyful is an anthology of 14 songs on the theme of Advent and Christmas for high voice and piano with accompanying CD

Covering the Baroque to the contemporary, this anthology features 14 lesser-known gems in English, German, Italian, Latin, and Russian by major composers. Marsh provides faithful English singing translations. A CD with piano accompaniments is included. Perfect for solo recitals or church services.

To order, please contact your local music store or customer service at 1-800-292-0639 or order online at Oxford University Press and Amazon.com.

Gifts & Treasures
Jane Marsh (Soprano), Gerd Ohlssen (Pianist)

Available soon on Amazon.com.

Faith is Believing

2009-04-30T10:09:00.003-04:00

“Faith is believing
And knack of perceiving
That trust is serenity
In promised divinity." JM

Artistic Greatness

2009-04-23T13:23:00.005-04:00

Artistic greatness, in any field, has a rare and uncanny quality of sensing life and the world head on and anew, without filtering it through warped beliefs, expectations or preconceptions. This 'divine essence' encompasses a field of wonder, and experiences a creative route filled with uncensored riches.
Putting this 'artistic dawning,' if you will, into words-written or spoken, or sung-allows all of us to see, read and hear with newborn vision, and experience with truly open heart.

Judgment

2009-04-22T08:07:00.004-04:00

More frequently, life in us is more strongly diminished by judgment than it is by illness. The spontaneity of the natural life force becomes stifled with over scrutiny. Judgment, and or approval, is sought or practiced to please others and ourselves. It is seldom to find someone who loves us as we are, just as it is seldom to love ourselves whole.

Human Quality Substance

2009-04-21T16:15:00.002-04:00

Aside from understanding the use of time and the ability to create and follow a vision, a true leader wields power, not via manipulation of others for personal gain out of a 'control or competition fanaticism,' rather through a true intention to see success in others, always looking at the 'big picture.' This is human-quality-substance of the highest integrity!

Worry Before Placing Bets

2009-04-20T15:39:00.001-04:00

A good rule of thumb would be, to do your worrying before you place your bets, not after the wheel starts turning.

Wagner Master Class – April 14, Met Opera Guild

2009-04-13T13:17:00.002-04:00

Jane Marsh Wagner Master Class - Metropolitan Opera Guild, April 14
“Wagner 'Lieds' the Way,” with reference to the Metropolitan Opera's production of Wagner’s RING CYCLE, and Wagner’s Songs
Date of Master Class: April 14
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Metropolitan Opera Guild, Rose Building, Sixth Floor, Lincoln Center, NYC
Tickets Reserved at, 212-769-7028

Passion Week & Good Friday

2009-04-09T13:52:00.000-04:00

"Oh week that witnessed holy suffering!
You sound such a serious note in this blissful spring season.
In the rejuvenated rays of the sun,
You spread the shadow of the cross over the bright earth,
And silently lower your mourning crape.
Meanwhile, the spring is allowed to continue germinating.
The violet is fragrant beneath blossoming trees.
And all the birds sing songs of joy.
Oh, be silent, you birds in the green meadows!
All around, hollow-toned bells are resounding.
The angels are softly singing dirges.
Oh, quiet, you birds high up in the blue sky!
You violets, do not crown any maiden’s tresses today!
My pious girl is picking you to make a dark bouquet.
You will accompany her to the Virgin Mary’s house,
And there you will wither on the altar of the Lord.
Ah, there, intoxicated by mournful melodies,
And sweetly dazed by heavy fumes of incense,
She seeks her bridegroom in the vaults of death,
And love and springtime – everything is lost!" JM

Spring Has Come Again

2009-03-18T09:50:00.000-04:00

“When the Sun’s face shows,
And there are no snows,
And the atmosphere’s clean,
And very serene,
With temperatures warmed,
To an occasional storm,
And a great transformation,
Is again in preparation,
Then Nature’s happy ring,
Welcomes in the noble spring,
And within her glory throngs,
Birds are singing budding songs.” JM

Saint Patrick’s Day & Christianity

2009-03-17T10:48:00.001-04:00

Saying has it that,
"Saint Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland,
As serpent symbols were early worshipped by pagans,
So, upon encountering the Druids at Tara,
It gave chance for Patrick’s true conversion hour,
And the Baptism of Druids there in "Holy Wells"
Gave way to March seventeen as the day to retell
All-world of a cherished and hallowed sanctity,
Introduced to Ireland as Christianity." JM

Met Opera & Mo. Erich Leinsdorf - You're Hired

2009-02-20T13:29:00.003-05:00

Maestro George Schick, Music Consultant of the Metropolitan Opera at the time, had taken a big interest in me, along with the Met, since my having won the attention of several major New York critics, the likes of Irving Kolodin, Winthrop Sargeant and Harold Schonberg, all of whom had written very favorably about me, after my involvement in the Met Auditions, while I was still at Oberlin College.
Shortly thereafter, Mo. Schick called me at Oberlin, saying that Mo. Erich Leinsdorf was looking for a leading soprano to head a stellar team for the opening of the Boston Symphony season, in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Missa Solemnis, and that he, Mo. Schick, and the Metropolitan Opera, would like to bring me to Mo. Leinsdorf’s attention, as well as a few other conductors. Was I willing to come back to New York and sing for Mo. Leinsdorf at the arrangement of the Met? I, in the middle of classes and finals, of course immediately mentioned this to my voice teacher at Oberlin, Ellen Repp, who simply said, “You go! I’ll take care of the school”. So off I went to New York, excited by this hugely complimentary prospect.
On the audition day, I arrived to be greeted by a mass of people assembled on the Rehearsal Stage of the Met. Not many singers, but numerous eager listeners. Mo. Leinsdorf, I later learned, was always someone who strongly demanded that one stand up to the occasion at hand, couldn’t have been less encouraging of me as I began to sing for him. Emitting a contradictory tone to everyone in the room at large, he clearly indicated that I, this kid, had been ill invited and was wasting his time:
“She’s much too young you know. I really don’t see how she can manage this”, he’s directing to Mo. Schick and everyone listening. Then, somehow caught up and convinced by what he was hearing from me, he changed completely, asking me to create colors, tempi and tone consistencies he obviously enjoyed. Suddenly, grinning enthusiastically, he blurted out: “She can do it. You’re hired!”
Later, at rehearsals in Boston, Leinsdorf took me aside, and said, "You may think I was unreasonably severe with you when you sang for me." I said nothing. He then looked at me square in the eye and said, "Yes, I may have been severe and unreasonable with you, but you delivered and stood up to me, didn't you! The test of ones worth often comes with barbs and hurdles and passing these tests is not a small matter. Remember this." He smiled at me very earnestly.

Valentine's Day Draws Nigh

2009-02-11T10:03:00.002-05:00

As Valentine’s Day draws nigh,
Cupid has no malady spinning his arrows on high,
And as they soar in jubilation of this glorious day,
They awaken love’s tenderness in a celebratory array,

And in completing Cupid’s quintessence of ardent passion,
And a day of partnership and love’s glory of fashion,
They find the depths of Love's joyous spirit,
While also arousing every sensory moment of it. JM

Think Miracles

2009-01-27T07:10:00.003-05:00

Is it not true that, as one thinks, so does one receive? The emotional honesty in ones thinking is the integrity and result of ones living experience, and, if one is seeking a change in his living circumstance, it is surely the focused thought and integrity of giving love, to oneself and others, which can create the miracle.
A thought!

Sound Elephant Trumpets

2009-01-26T09:39:00.004-05:00

“What a wonderful animal the elephant is,
communal and constant, with loyal willingness to give,
and those elephant youngsters are actually quite capricious,
but this is really just natural baby sweetness.
And, within the herd, there is always an aunt,
in the event that a baby's mother just simply can’t
attend to watching her new baby off spring,
in which case, a 'surrogate' steps in with infant watching.
Thus, when each mother needs to bathe herself,
another elephant puts its own needs upon the shelf,
and allows each mother to step up to the plate,
keeping an eye on her baby while she bathes in the lake.
So, each elephant takes over where the other leaves off,
giving every herd member a chance at the trough.
But, most importantly is the elephant’s devotion,
tending its troubled without slightest commotion.
This is committed attention and soulful caring,
which keeps the onlooker fascinatedly staring.
Thus, we note elephant’s intuition to be incredibly noteworthy,
very like humans when on hospital duty.
And, with those massive trunks that elephants have,
they will lift a whole forest, should another be trapped,
and carry one away, between two, can it be saved,
or bury it and then mourn it, if that's the only way.
Elephants have extraordinary instinct and a captivating intelligence,
which is true reason to celebrate them with loud pomp and circumstance.
So let us jubal for elephants with robustness of cheer
and let elephant trumpets ring in vociferous fanfare!” JM

Personally Empowered Transformation

2009-01-23T12:40:00.002-05:00

Replicating a mode of operation, in the same untempered manner, is to be faced with the reality of haphazard results, and is wearing on one’s personal transmission-as it were-to say nothing of the rest of one’s personal flow…
Governing and/or reacting to circumstances, using the same personal tools, without any further forethought and psychic tune-up, is missing the glory of personally empowered transformation.

Snow Bunnies

2009-01-21T12:46:00.003-05:00

"Snow bunnies are cute and really quite sweet,
But Snow Bunnies are not at all very neat,
And Snow Bunnies are actually miraculously cunning,
As one sees them hip-pity-hop running,
Through forests and fields,
Gathering tidbits for meals,
And being ever nosy,
As they sniff the wild posies,
‘Cause Snow Bunnies, really, do quite well match,
While, happily, cavorting on a snowy white patch,
Which makes them actually quite difficult to see,
So color protection can certainly be
Advantageous for them against predator inspections
Of foxes, wolves, and hoot owl collections,
And Snow Bunnies are high in the family sort of way,
With brothers and sisters for play every day,
As Snow Bunnies have bushels…and bushels…and bushels…of children,
More than ever would be thought by you in a million,
So that is why Snow Bunnies are not very neat,
‘Cause there are just too many little bunny feet
Scampering around in the small bunny hut,
Driving their mother understandably ‘nuts,’
With all of those things that little bunnies crave,
But the discipline is strong, so those bunnies behave.” JM

Listening is a Powerful Thing

2009-01-20T12:33:00.000-05:00

Listening is a basic way to connect with another person. A focused and caring amount of attention is such a valuable and powerful thing to offer another. It is up to the listener to fine tune the listening receptors to the energy output of the discussion partner. This is a responsibility well worth taking seriously, considering the trusted gift being offered.

Attire Creates Ambiance

2009-01-18T15:44:00.002-05:00

Attire choices create the ambiance of a costume for you-in private or in public-and, regarding your guests or audience-in private or in public-, attire creates the ambiance of a set and a costume as well.
Do not underestimate the importance of attire in your professional thinking. Dress for the occasion your job requires, and include your personal assets and professional station, and its expression, in your attire-choice thinking.

Talents are Gifts

2009-01-16T10:16:00.003-05:00

Offer your talents as widely as possible. Talents are gifts and gifts are to be given.

Good Rule of Thumb

2009-01-14T11:05:00.003-05:00

In rethinking problem solving, the proportion of focus is not to be underestimated. One might glance earnestly at the negatives, but one would do well to focus strongly on the positives...A good rule of thumb is to spend twenty percent on the problem and eighty percent on the painting of it fixed.

Changing Personally Inappropriate Patterns

2009-01-13T10:39:00.002-05:00

Personally inappropriate and destructive patterns and ideas are changed not by Will necessarily, but by other ideas. One can assume that two very powerful ingredients and levers go hand-in-hand with this concept to change. These are convictions held by almost everyone:
(1) the belief and feeling that one is capable of holding his own, doing his share, exercising a certain amount of independence, and,
(2) the belief that one houses a certain something within, which should not be allowed to suffer indignities.

Music of Tone

2009-01-12T16:50:00.000-05:00

No matter how trivial, uncomfortable, or profound the suggestion or news, it is the tone of presentation, which makes the music. There is nothing, which cannot be received in a positive light, if presented in an acceptable tone.

Limitless Joy

2009-01-09T10:37:00.005-05:00

"The characteristic of limitless Joy,
Found in a person, a place or a toy,
Is the basis for the strongest of lasting treasures,
Which really adds to the world’s greatest of lasting pleasures,
Offering a key to a most divine love,
And an energy within, all around, and above,
Which can open a door to a personal glory,
In a way materialism cannot add to this story,
And lends an enthusiastic existence to all,
Igniting the leader within to reign tall.
So, recognizing one who can empower with greatest of might,
Is seeing seed to everyone soaring on personal heights.” JM