>As someone suggested to me privately, I got a Music
>Minus One book ("Everybody's Favorite Songs for high
>voice") and the accompaniment is wonderful. The
>pianist, John Wustman, is very sensitive not only to
>the music but also to important things like allowing
>the singer time to breath. I would highly recommend
>The final one I got was the good old Schirmer
>Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias for medium high
>voice. This is a mixed bag. Some of the songs the
>tempo is fine, some of them it's too fast. I sang
>along with most of them, and what bugged me the most
>was the metronomic playing, with not even the
>slightest allowance for breathing, and very little
>attention to tempo changes or dynamic markings. Also,
>some of the longer held notes (i.e. 3 beats or longer)
>were cut short, which can be confusing to say the
>least.
>Jennifer
I agree completely. I've also just bought the music minus one (schubert
vol.2)- with John Wustman CD, and yes, he understands singers. The tempo is
a little slow than most I've heard, which is wonderful for practising too.
And his sensitivity is gorgeous. I've also got the Schirmer 24 Arias with
the CD's and I agree. It's too fast. In some sort of token attempt at
baroque performance practice, the songs are all slightly faster and it all
feels a bit silly. If they wanted to be authentic not just tempo-wise, then
they should have also played the music on a harpsichord, not a piano. Per
la Gloria is ridiculous, especially the high G's. This accompanist
obviously doesn't play with many singers. Maybe he accompanies
instrumentalists (oooh...).
I've got another one. A Hal Leonard Mozart arias (ha!) book with CD, and
it's a little metronomic also, but is generally better.
Mirko
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