sarahdunant.com » Art History

when women couldn’t sing

Sarah Dunant — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:41:48 +0000

Having been having the time of my life on this book tour. I wish I could say it has come from selling books (I fear the days of book shops gigs are numbered) but also because the time you actually get to do that – to really talk to people and start a conversation about writing and the book – is so limited. ( There is a Jackson Brown song that contains the line. “And the only time that seems to short is the time that we get to play” Well, that is how it feels on a book tour. )

But in cities like Portland and Nashville after the gig is finished I’ve been lucky enough to find good music to listen to. (Thank you Jan for driving me round the edges of Portland!) And i have been knocked out by the bands, and especially, given what I have been writing about, the women. There are women out there with fabulous voices, great action on the guitar and such stage presence. And it has made me think deeply about Sacred Hearts and how relatively recently it has been that women have the freedom and the respect to be appreciated and noticed as musicians and public performers

In my convent in Sacred Hearts women sung because they were praising God. But what was clear to me researching the book is that they also sung because they loved music and many of them have fabulous voices. They would never be allowed to perform outside the convent, as at the time I am writing it was simply not a respectable job for a well bred woman.

So, as I sat in those bars in Portland and heard Tama belting out Stormy Monday I just wanted to raise a glass to how far history has brought us

If you know any women out there who like to sing get them to read Sacred Hearts to find out how the managed to subvert the rules, and then listen to what they sounded like on the podcasts. You will not be disappointed

And if you happen to live near Brighton in England , then come to St Batholomews church on May 3rd and hear the book being dramatised with myself and actresses and a whole choir of women who five hundred years ago, might have been nuns.! It will be something. I can promise you.

west and now east

Sarah Dunant — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:34:28 +0000

i think Lewis and Clark did it the other way around, yes but I finally arrive in the East. First Washington and a great NPR interview with Lianne Hanson, then Miami – Book and Books and one hell of smart audience firing on al cylinders – thank you Miami Now New York City To all those of you have met en route during the nine city tour greetings. I have had some great conversations about history, women, religion, story teling, and just what a dark delicious but sometimes terrifying place the past can be – especially 500 years ago.

To those I didn’t get to meet this blog is there for your thoughts and comments. I am trying to get the set up of the site changed so we can all see each other comments together more easily and maybe start discussions. I would happily join in. So throw some ideas and questions out.

To all of you have have bought “Sacred hearts” a great thank you and i hope it does not disappoint, I have come to realise that the best publicity in the whole world is word of mouth and so if it enthralled you then please just pass the word. Eventually we will have a huge forum here talking about women, the past, spirituality, sexuality, music, art, relglion . You name it. I look forward to it.

Sarah

sun in san francisco

Sarah Dunant — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 23:51:56 +0000

All tours have low points and i am very much hoping 3 hours in cars in LA with a 6. am start the next morning marks the spot. i seem to remember a Jackson Brown lyric that fits here. “the only time that seems too short is the time that we get to play” by which, of course, he meant music, and I would mean talking history, women, religion, art – all the stuff that makes life interesting, And yes, music though in this case polyphony and Palestrina.

thank you to all who have come to listen and join in the conversation. When you come to read the book do let me know what you thought. I would love to hear it. now I have an evening off in SF. life is not all bad!

seattle via the gulf islands

Sarah Dunant — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:24:58 +0000

first thing to note. It’s hot. Seattle sings in the sushine. i got here yestrday after a fantastic weekend at the Denman island Writers and Readers festival. If you don’t know about it and you live anywhere in British Columbia then check it out. The most beautiful place, the kindest most hospitable people and the most stimulating discussions – religion, spirituality ( not always the same thing) politics, 16th century nuns , writing you name it . And all around the forests and the water – the most delicate delicious light with a touch of melancholy. i cannot wait to go back.

struggling with a lost voice ( if anyone finds it send it via my website) but looking forward to finding one when I need to. This morning a tv interview with Nancy Pearl the US’s great public ( in many senses) librarian, tonight an event with the university bookshop then on tomorrow to LA. more planes than a human being ought to take – a carbon footprint that will take years to recover from. i shall have to walk to Italy for the next decade, but the conversations that come at the end of the events are worth it.

otherwise as long as i remember to eat it all goes well…..

Vancouver with half a voice

Sarah Dunant — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:27:43 +0000

I love this city so much. There is such a deep sense of relaxation to it. Any place where you can see mountains and water at the same timne is good for the soul. Not that I am seeing much of it. Tv am studios, books shops and the odd glimpse of a view out of car window. But I will be back for pleasure.

On Monday I did a great gig in Ben Mcnally’s books In Toronto, but in a huge itlaian restaurant, where of course people yelled and shouted, as italians love to do. I had brought a cold stowed away in my luggage from London and I had a voice that sounded deep enough to be the only y magnificent. Musica Secreta recorded all the lovelist bits of music which are in the book and ther do indeed have the voices of angels. A real soundtrack of its own. There are samples of it on podcasts and the web site and you can buy the Cd on a link from my site to theirs. Music Secreta are women who have given their lives to delve deep into history and bring alive the sounds of women ’s voices as they were 500 yars ago. They are also enormous fun to work with.

Me – I croak and swallow throat lozenges and with luck some kind of voice will return., Otherwise I’ll give the seagulls a run for their money when I hit the ferry out to Victoria island tomorrow. At Cadboro books for anyone local…..

Thanks to you all for your blogs. It makes a real difference to feel one is not alone, even when the hotel room is empty. Sarah