Grace Notes

by Heidi Hart

"Ever since I was 10 years old, I’d felt myself yearning to 'go astray.' For me, that didn’t mean drinking and cavorting with boys; it meant being myself without fear."—from the book What happens when a trained singer who grew up in a "house of vowels" finds that her voice is not her own? What happens when a woman loses the Mormon faith of her childhood and abandons the rituals she’s always known? What does a woman, already married for thirteen years by her early thirties, do when she realizes she has been "lying for years?" How does one sing, with grace, from the heart? In the spirit of Mary Catherine Bateson’s Composing a Life and Kathleen Norris’s Cloister Walk , Heidi Hart’s luminous memoir retraces her search for an opening to her heart’s path. She finds that the religious life of her Latter-day Saint family—which includes a revered General Authority—robs her of her voice and her spirit. When she discovers Catharine, a mute, Quaker ancestor, Hart begins a vital journey—a journey blessed by her devout and devoted husband; a journey that leads her as she studies Zuni mythology, Jewish tradition, Benedictine monastic ritual, Emily Dickinson, and Saint Hildegard of Bingen—a journey that leads her to a place that feels like the company of Friends, the Quaker community of Salt Lake City. With grace and lyricism, Hart shares the private, personal wisdom she has earned in her community of friends, a community that embraces silences and dissonance, a place where she can't keep from singing.

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

In spite of her (justified) critism of the Morman male dominance, I find her husband to be unusually understanding and supportive. How many men would move across country with a newborn baby to allow their wife to study music and poetry? It is to the credit of both of them that they were able to stay married and allow each to follow their spiritual journeys, to share spiritually while he continued in the Morman church and she with the Quakers. It gives hope that some Mormans at least are open to sharing other religious practices without judgement.

[Mary Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heidi's journey flows melodically, rarely straying from the theme of the book - finding her voice. I admire her courage and honesty, and I like how she seeks meaning in her own life by turning to the lives of her ancestors. Having grown up as a Mormon in Salt Lake, I can relate to some of what she writes. I, too have had to take a good look at my beliefs and find out what is true for myself. However, I don't get the sense that Heidi is truly released or free after reading through the pages. Perhaps she has broken through a few layers of all that has restricted her in the past, but I sense she has many more issues - not necessarily related to religion - to resolve. It would be interesing to hear more of her story since the writing of this book.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace Notes is a personal memoir of a young woman, raised Mormon, who eventually finds and joins the Quakers. For me, it was made more interesting by the musical connection -- she is also a voice teacher whose mother was also a voice teacher, and her spiritual development is parallelled by her finding of a "voice", both literal and figurative. It provides much food for thought on the spiritual side of music. It takes me back to a workshop with Scottish folksinger Jean Redpath in 1975, titled something like "Where your head is at when you sing". This book is also of interest to Monteverdians because Heidi Hart, the author, is Stephanie Ray's voice teacher.

[Kara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure I'm not exaggerating when I say this was the worst book I've ever read.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting moments. Boring at times. Worth the read.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a comforting read to me during a difficult time. Hart's memoir documenting her transition of faith growing up as a Mormon in Salt Lake City and then transitioning on to Quakerism.