I'm a little surprised at the suggestion that "O Divine Redeemer" would be considered a mezzo solo as I've always thought of it more as a piece for a dramatic soprano. Of course, I haven't seen an actual copy of "The Redemption" full score. There is leap up to the high A that happens on several occasions with really no good spot for more than a catch breath before it unless you go back 2-3 measures & can keep the breath moving. I've sung this AND Bernstein's "Simple Song" AND the Hovannes "Out of the Depths".
Curious...
Pat
PS Craig Courtney writes very well in a contemporary style without being considered CCM & the late John Ness Beck wrote some pieces that work much better as solos vs. choir settings. Nice stuff for a worship service but I don't think, however, that I'd consider either of their work "art songs", even in spite of the fact that Mr. Courtney was commissioned to write an opera a few years ago.
On Wed, 31 Jul 2002 10:33:37 -0400 (EDT) Karen Mercedes <dalila@R...> writes: > I've been collecting a lot of sacred "art songs" over the past few > years, > and will mention some of my favourites: > (snip) > > Gounod: Repentir (O Divine Redeemer) - particularly effective when > done > with both piano and organ obbligato (the Schirmer sheet music > includes the organ > part). Le Calvaire (There is a green hill far away) is somewhat > less > musically inspired, but has been well received whenever I've sung > it. > (snip) > > John Ness Beck: "Lord, here am I" > (snip) > Also, > I've excluded some other favourites that just can't be sung well by > mezzo > because of their range/tessitura, like Bloch's wonderful DEUX > PSAUMES and > Hovanhess' "Out of the Depths". > > > > Karen Mercedes > http://www.radix.net/~dalila/index.html > ______________________________________ > I will sing with the spirit, and I > will sing with the understanding also. > 1 Corinthians 14:15
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