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,,,,,,,I
started having lessons with Awe in 1947 when I was nineteen years old.
I was a perfect English Rose (his name for me) and it seemed impossible
for me to shed this form whatever the weather! I bloomed perpetually,
hiding all my rusty leaves and black-fly behind the constant show of beautiful
flowers.
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,,,,,,In other words, I always tried to produce
the sound he asked for in the best possible way – quite unable to
open my mouth and really scream from the depths of my guts. It took the
experience of motherhood, the death of my husband, and the return to Awe
via Malerargues in 2002, to allow myself to exist, with all my withered
blooms, to find my voice and to understand what singing is all about!
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,,,,,However, along this route of self understanding
there were many moments with Awe when the light dawned, even if the execution
was still questionable. One evening I went to a party given by another
pupil and for this fairly special occasion I bought a new dress, a dress
that had a very beautiful petticoat underneath. During the party, possibly
with a tot or two of wine within me I daringly lifted the skirt of my
dress and showed everyone my gorgeous new petticoat. I felt this was the
height of uninhibited behaviour.
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,,,,,,A few days later I arrived for my next
lesson. After greeting Awe I stood by the piano ready to start the lesion.
He looked at me with a slightly knowing smile and said, “I hear
you showed your petticoat at Marilyns party.” “Yes”
I said rather carefully, knowing that there was something to come. There
was a pause. He looked gently, but seriously at me, “When are you
going to show me your soul?” he asked quietly.
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,,,,,,,I hope that the lesson I learned from
this has allowed me to get more into touch with my soul and for it to
remain more visible to everyone.
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Sheila
Braggins 2009
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