| To: "'VOCALIST'" <vocalist> Subject: RE: Composers Intentions/was Brahms Serious Songs Date sent: Mon, 10 Jan 2000 12:29:07 +0100 Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Some good points. Sometimes it matters, and sometimes it doesn't. In the Brahms Serious Songs I think the low male voice combines with the particular piano textures to create something uniquely sombre. Hoisting the vocal line by an octave for contralto alters this balance, which is why I find the Ferrier recording unsatisfying, despite its many beauties. Also women (or far that matter, tenors) simply aren't capable of the type of declamation required by the marvellous setting of the words 'Nun aber bleibet Glaube, Hoffnung, Liebe'. I don't wish to appear sexist. I'd love to be capable of the kind of declamation exploited by Verdi at the beginning of 'Tu, che le vanita', but I just can't do it, and neither can any other baritone I've ever heard. In the privacy of my music room I've sung 'Gretchen am Spinnrade'. I love this song. I think it one of the best things Schubert ever did, and probably I sing it as 'well' as any woman. But no man should sing it, even if he changes all the 'seins' to 'ihrs'. We just don't sound right, and we betray the composer. Male voices have a different internal balance to female voices, and sometimes it matters. Tenors voices have a different balance to baritone voices, and sometimes it matters.
Of course, more often it doesn't matter. One must try to honestly divine how the composers intentions can best be realised. In smoe cases, such a realisation will not be within one's own powers, and integrity will demand relinquishing the piece in favour of something to which one's suited. A bitter pill, perhaps, but good as a check on galloping egos.
This is old-fashioned thinking, I know. Our modern view is more confused. We're quite happy to hear a light colaratura sing 'die beiden Grenadiere', but would deny Strauss's 'Amor' to heavier sopranos.
So, no bolt of lightning awaits those who transpose or arrange, but it is always worthwhile to ask precisely how our actions improve what the composer has left us. For myself, I rate Brahms's musicianship far higher than my own, and would try to honour his intentions, not mine.
Happy singing,
Regards / vriendelijke groeten
Laurie Kubiak Commercial Analyst - Europe & Africa TSMS-2 Infrastructure Technology Services, Shell Services International Shell Centre, London SE1 7NA Telephone: +44 171 934 3853; Fax: +44 171 934 6674 Mobile: 07771 971 921: E.mail: Laurence.l.Kubiak-at-is.shell.com Office: LON-SC 631
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