2013-12

When it comes to singing
songbirds are nature’s real
virtuosos. They possess a
musical instrument more complex
than anything in the orchestra.
Known as the syrinx, it is the bird’s
version of the voice box, or larynx,
in humans. The syrinx has two
pairs of vocal chords so songbirds
can produce two notes at the same
time. They routinely perform a feat
equivalent to a musician playing two
instruments at once while dancing.
Not many humans can achieve that,
although some opera singers might
come pretty close.
When we humans sing, we do it
because we enjoy it and it makes it
feel good, but to a bird his song is
his life. He sings to attract a mate
(and those with the best voices
attract the most females – like pop
stars today). He sings to defend
his territory - song and display are
meant to prevent a fight rather than
provoke one. ‘Don’t even think about
it,’ he says, ‘you’d be bound to lose,
I’m the greatest!’ He also passes on
his song to future generations.
Watching birds sing, it is obvious
that they enjoy it. Indeed scientists
have found that chemical changes
take place in the brain of a female
nightingale as she listens to the
male bird’s song. Similar changes
take place in our brains when
we sing and chemicals called
endorphins are released which
make us feel happy and elated.
Singing also stimulates the memory
and is used to help stroke survivors
and people with dementia. These
people, although unable to speak,
can often sing complete songs from
their youth, word and tune perfect.
Charities like The Lost Chord and
Mindsong work to help these people
regain life and happiness.
But the voice is a muscle, and,
like all muscles, bird and human, it
needs to be used and kept in tune.
Fortunately this is enjoyable as well
as good for us. Singing uses many
muscles including the diaphragm
(our bellows).
The brain uses huge amounts of
oxygen, burning more calories than
the equivalent time spent in the gym
and the controlled breathing helps
clear our lungs and breathing tubes
which is why asthmatics are often
prescribed singing lessons.
We humans, like birds, were
designed to sing and so we have
from Old Testament times. There
are hundreds of references in the
Bible to singing, dancing and musicmaking.
The songs were written to
be sung and many have headings
such as ‘to the choir master’. King
David, Jesus’ ancestor, was the
greatest Psalm writer and he would
not only have written the words but
also compose the music. Although
we might never know what these
tunes sounded like it is possible that
we still sing some of them today. For
just as the blackbird sings the same
song he sang 2,000 years ago, so
much of our own music has been
passed down through the centuries.
Certainly the early Christians still
sang the same songs Jesus sang
in the temple and much of our own
church music is well over 1,000
years old. St Matthew tells us that
after the Last Supper the final thing
Jesus did before setting out to face
his last ordeal was to sing a hymn
with his friends (Matthew 26:30). Is
it not possible that we know the tune
and still sing it today?
Here are some lines from a prayer
by Eddie Askew:
“Lord, I know your song
I want to make it my own
A pilgrim song which takes me on
my way.
I’ll sing it solo if I must, but there are
times we can sing it together. But
Lord, I’ll go on singing ‘til the day
I sing it in your presence loud and
free, the harmony complete.
Eddie Askew, ‘I’ve Been Thinking
Lord’
Sylvia Bennett
Celebration of Singing
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
Church Office: 9 Linden Avenue, Sheffield S8 0GA
Tel: (0114) 274 5086
email: office@stchads.org
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
Page 20 website: www.stchads.org
Church Office: 9 Linden Avenue, Sheffield S8 0GA
Page 21
Tel: (0114) 274 5086
email: office@stchads.org
website: www.stchads.org