Marion Zimmer Bradley
Songs for Harp and Voice
Moira Stern
I grew up listening to my mother sing. Like many children, I was not aware at the time of the depth and breadth of her gift to me through music. Through her, I learned a great many folk songs and operatic arias, and she spurred me to a lifelong passion for music. The songs in this book are either songs she taught me, or songs I know she would have liked. I know she is better known for her books than for her singing, but let me share her with you through music.
Marion Zimmer Bradley was born in Rochester, New York during the Depression, and grew up in terrible poverty on a dairy farm. Every Saturday morning while ironing, she would listen to opera on the radio, and dream of becoming an opera singer. She had often told me that "becoming a singer requires three things; health, talent and money," and to her sorrow, all she had was talent. Therefore, rather than pursuing that dream, she wrote her first book, "The Forest House" when she was sixteen.
She wrote over seventy books during her lifetime, including
the Darkover series, The Firebrand, the "Mists of Avalon" trilogy,
and many others. One result of her success was that she made it possible
for me to study music, and to become the singer she always wished she
could be. At nearly every performance I have ever given, someone will
come up to me and say "I always wanted to play the harp, but I could
never find a harp or a teacher." If you are carrying a long-buried
dream of playing the harp, my website www.moirastern.com has resources
where you can find harp teachers, lists of Celtic and harp recordings
you might enjoy, as well as addresses of harp societies and other things
which can assist you in your quest. Please feel free to write to me through
the website with your comments and questions, and join the mailing list
for updates on events and performances in your area.
--Moira Stern
