From the Cauldron 7: Exorcising a Demon

evans.jpgI’d like to introduce my music teacher from my secondary school. His name is Mr Evans, and he was a real inspiration – he’s the one in the middle, by the way. I went to Oathall Community College from 1981 to 1986 and like many people really screwed up my education. When my teachers used to ask me to try harder, I used to say, “Hey, don’t worry, I’m going to be a musician. It’s all part of the plan!” It’s amazing how certain a teenager can be – I’m seeing it now in my own children as they reach that age. When it came to my options I made a huge mistake – I didn’t take music! Mr Evans was really upset about that. He said that I was one of four students in the school who, he thought, could go on a take music at University. But, you see, I just didn’t want to learn about dead composers! I mean, how can that teach me about music….? What a daft sod I was.
But this blog isn’t about Mr Evans. If it was it would stop there. No the main reason for this post is to talk about the head of the music department at the time, Mr Treble. Amazing isn’t it – we had Evans the Tune, and Mr Treble as music teachers. Can you imagine the ribbing they got! Well, Mr. Evans did, but Mr Treble was a more imposing, old-school teacher who believed in the cane and detentions.
For a number of weeks me and a friend, Mark Skinner, worked on a musical piece to perform in front of the year group. We gave up our free time and finally it was ready. It was the words of the poem Excelsior by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow set to a guitar tune I’d written, complete with vocal harmonies between myself and Mark. Mr Evans gathered the year group in our class room, and also called in Mr Treble. I knew it’d be okay, but I was really nervous – I so wanted things to go well.
Well, we performed the song, and the two teachers came up to us during the applause. Mr Evans congratulated us both, then Mr Treble came over and furiously shook Mark’s hand, telling him how wonderful he’d done. I asked, “Did you like what I did, Sir?” Mr Treble looked at me in the eyes, his faced dropped, and he said, “David, anyone can sing through their nose!” and walked off.
I was devastated. So much effort, and my confidence was destroyed by the head of the music department. I guess that one incident was the main reason I decided not to take music as an option a couple of years later – it changed my life. It’s amazing how delicate the relationship is between a child and a person of authority like a teacher or parent. Their opinion counts. I guess I was about 12 at the time, and it took me until I recorded my third album, Spirit of Albion, when I was 40 years old to actually begin to have faith in my voice – to feel free of that voice in my head that kept saying, “David, anyone can sing through their nose!”
So why am I typing this today? Well, CD number four is at the point when I’m about to begin laying down the main vocal lines to the songs I’ve already recorded. This has always been a time I’ve dreaded in the past. A time that has caused me a lot of pain, trying to push through that self-doubt. But this time things are different. I have so many people now telling me how my songs emotionally move them, that they help them in their lives. Some of my songs have been played at handfastings to mark the celebration of love, others at funerals to help the process of grief. I no longer have that voice in my head – it has been well and truly exorcised. But I wanted to write this up because I know I’m not the only one whose dreams have been challenged by self doubt caused by thoughtless words. If you have fear of failure, take some strength from me, and fight for your dreams anyway. Exorcise your Mr Treble!

8 responses to “From the Cauldron 7: Exorcising a Demon”

  1. My mother always used to tell me that I sang like a cat!

    I’m so glad you got passed this setback Damh, the world would have been much the poorer without your music. Very much looking forward to the next CD.
    Bryn.

  2. Thank you for sharing your music with us, it is beautiful and I am sure that it provides inspiration to many, not least myself. Looking forward to your next CD. Long may the Awen inspire you.

    /l

  3. Dave, there isn’t a Pagan or Druid bible or difinitive book on what we believe … But the words you sing are as about as close to one as some of us will ever need, including Anarchy In The UK LOL .. Spider

  4. Thanks to you all. It’s amazing the hold these little demons can have over us if we don’t exorcise them. For me, this has been a really rewarding cathartic process. Wonderful to feel the freedom coming back to my voice.
    Peace
    Damh
    xx

  5. Thanks for those words, Damh. But more than that, thanks for your voice! So looking forward to the new CD, where no doubt I shall find yet more Awen inspired beauty, and more words that sit so well with my path and my view of the ‘verse.
    /| bish

  6. I’m slowly exorcising my old secondary school English teacher, a man who hated kids, hated teaching, and especially hated teenagers who loved reading and creative writing. When I was off school for over a year with a serious illness, he refused to provide the tutor the council sent me with any coursework. He routinely humiliated kids in class, stripping them of their confidence and any creativity they were brave enough to bring him.

    It’s been 20 years since I saw him, and I refuse to continue to hand over any power to him. Now I find myself wondering why he treated a whole generation of children with such contempt, and I realise how miserable he must have been to bring such misery to others. What a damned waste of a life.

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