Last year, I devoted a series of posts to the month of February called "Singer of Day" Month. This year, in keeping with the tradition, I'd like to highlight the Song, Lied and Mélodie. Hopefully, it will yield some great singers, examples of great music from the song repertoire and perhaps some unknown gems.
So far we've had: February 1: Descúbrase El Pensamiento from Canicones Amatorias (Enrique Granados) February 2: Bachiana Brasileira No. 5 (Villa-Lobos) February 3: Du liebst mich nicht (Schubert) February 4: Havanaise (Viardot) February 5: Moi genie, moi angel, moi drug (Tchaikovsky) February 6: Ging heut Morgen übers Feld (Mahler) February 7: Schäfer's Klagelied (Schubert) February 8: Non,Je Ne Regrette Rien (Charles Dumont) February 9: Von Ewiger Liebe (Brahms) February 10: Haugtussa (Grieg) February 11: The Sound of Freedom (Moustafa Fahmy, Mohamed Khalifa, and Mohamed Shaker) February 12: Mutya ng Pasig (Nicanor Aberlando) February 13: Eri già tutta mia (Monteverdi) February 14: Lied von der belebenden Wirkung des Geldes (Hanns Eisler) February 15: Stripsody Cathy Berbarian February 16: Youkali Kurt Weill February 17: Berceuses du Chat Stravinksy February 18: Berceuses du Chat Stravinksy February 19: Berceuses du Chat Stravinksy February 20: Berceuses du Chat Stravinksy February 21: Como quieres que adivine? Guridi
My apologies for not having posted in the last several days. I will continue and try to caught up.
Spanish composer, Jesús Guridi (1866- 1961) wrote a set of six songs, which are quite beautiful and can be a great addition to any song recital. They are entitled Seis canciones castellanas/ Six Castilian Songs
This one is exquisitely sung by Carmen Bustamente.
Como quieres que adivine?/How do you expect me to guess?
Here are 4 pieces since I didn't post yesterday and won't be able to post again for a couple of days. These four pieces will be for February 17, 18, 19 and 20!
Music: Igor Stravinksy Poem: Charles Ramuz I. Spi kot (On the stove) II. Kot na pechi (At home) III. Bai-bai (Dodo) IV. U kota, kota (The cat has)
After Stravinksy's final trip to Russian, he returned full of ideas connected to Russian folk music. These pieces are based on Russian Folk song.
These are wonderful pieces if you are a mezzo looking for some great chamber music to program. It's scored for voice and three clarinets (Eb,Bass and A ). It can also be sung in French. The pieces are quite short. All four take under 4 minutes to perform. But every note is golden. Cathy Berberian is the singer.
Teresa Stratas is a beguiling performer and Youkali is a song equally as beguiling. This video is an excerpt from the film September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill, directed by Larry Weinstein. It creates an atmosphere of nostalgia, sensuality and longing. The poem tells us that Youkali is "in every human heart, the deliverance we await for tomorrow... Youkali is the land of our desires Youkali is happiness, pleasure. But it is a dream, a folly. There is no Youkali.
I love it when composers sing their own music, even when or especially because they don't have attractive instruments. There's something that always comes through. You can here the essence of the piece. This is one of those rare moments. Hanns Eisler sings his Lied von der belebenden Wirkung des Geldes/ Song of the Invigorating Effects of Money
There are many excellent pieces written by Eisler in collaboration with Bertolt Brecht. Many have an overt or hidden political message.
Lied von der belebenden Wirkung des Geldes Music: Hans Eisler Text: Bertolt Brecht
Niedrig gilt das Geld auf dieser Erden Und doch ist sie, wenn es mangelt, kalt. Und sie kann sehr gastlich werden Plötzlich durch des Gelds Gewalt. Eben war noch alles voll Beschwerden Jetzt ist alles golden überhaucht Was gefroren hat, das sonnt sich Jeder hat das, was er braucht. Rosig färbt der Horizont sich Blicket hinan: der Schornstein raucht!"
Ja da schaut alles gleich ganz anders an. Voller schlägt das Herz. Der Blick wird weiter. Reichlich ist das Mahl. Flott sind die Kleider. Und der Mann ist jetzt ein andrer Mann."
English Translation
The value of money is low on earth. And yet it's cold, if there is a lack of it. And it can be very hospitable Suddenly, through the power of money. A minute ago everything was full of complaints Now everything is tinged with gold. What has frozen, is now basking in the sun. Everyone has what he needs. The horizon is rose colored. Gaze upwards: the chimney smokes!
Yes, soon everything looks completely different. Full of heart beats. The gaze goes onward. Generous meals. Stylish clothes. And the man is now another man!
Just over a year ago, Hugues Cuenod died at the age of 108. I didn't get a chance to post his obituary at this site. This post is a belated tribute to a great singer.
With an angelic, pure toned and unpushed instrument, he sang publicly into his 90's. He was self effacing about his gifts, telling the NY times in 1987, “I never had a voice, so how could I lose one?” But he did have a great voice, a voice with exquisite diction, sophisticated musicianship and that clean, pure, angelic tone.
Here, he sings Eri già tutta mia but Monteverdi. Pure poetry.
"Eri già tutta mia", Music: Claudio Monteverdi- 1587-1643 from Scherzi Musicali Poet: Anonymous
Eri già tutta mia, Mia quel' alma e quel core, Chi da me ti desvia: Novo laccio d'amore? O bellezz' o valore, O mirabil constanza, Ove sei tu? Eri già tutta mia; Hor non sei più. Ah, che mia non sei più.
Sol per me gl'occhi belli Rivolgevi ridenti, Per me d'oro i capelli Si spiegavan a i venti. O fugaci contenti, O fermezza d'un core, Ove sei tu? Eri già tutta mia; Hor non sei più. Ah, che mia non sei più.
Il gioir nel mio viso: Ah che più non rimiri. Il mio canto, il mio riso È converso in martiri. O dispersi sospiri, O sparita pietate, Ove sei tu? Eri già tutta mia; Hor non sei più. Ah, che mia non sei più.
English Translation from Lied and Art Song Text Site (see side bar for link)
You were once all mine, mine were your heart and soul. Who turned you away from me? The lure of a new love? O beauty, O valor, O admirable constancy, where are you now? You were once all mine, but no longer, no longer, alas! you're mine no longer.
To me alone you turned your lovely smiling eyes, for me alone you loosed your golden hair to the wind. O fleeting happiness, O steadiness of heart, where are you now? You were once all mine but no longer, no longer, alas! you're mine no longer.
Pleasure on my face, alas! you'll gaze upon no longer; my song, my laugh are changed to torture. O scattered sighs, O vanished pity, where are you now? You were once all mine but no longer, no longer, alas! you're mine no longer.
Here's one in keeping with the theme of lesser known pieces. I don't know about you, but until my student brought this song to me, I wasn't at all familiar with Filipino art song. This piece is a "kundiman", the Philippines signature love song. In the lexicon of the Tagalog (the official language of the Phillipines,) the word "mutya" means, literally, "pearl" and, figuratively, "gem", "charm", and "amulet." In the Tagalog folklore, the mutya is a woman, a maiden goddess of the rivers, lakes, springs, seas and oceans - in short she is the "Mother of Waters."
This is a beautiful performance by soprano, Mimi Kater and pianist, Christina Yue. The style contains elements of European romanticism mixed with more traditional folk sounding melodic lines and textures. This beautiful Kundiman portrays a lost kingdom and a mythical past.
Mutya ng Pasig Music: Nicanor Aberlando (1893-1934) Text: Deogracia A. Rosario
A brief translation:
On a night when the moon peeks from the heavens, when the gentle breeze tries to awaken her from her slumber. A vision of purity, her hair flows like a wave. She is the Mutya of Pasig, whose every gesture is song and poetry. (the muse speaks) "I was once a princess in the kingdom of Love. When love died so did my kingdom. My strength has gone and now lives in your hearts. If you want me to live again, give me back my love!"
Just minutes ago, Vice President Sulieman annouced that President Mubarak has stepped down!
The people of Egypt have won their freedom from 30 years of a dictatorship. The sound of freedom is a glorious thing.
Good luck to the people of Egypt and continued strength in the days ahead.
The Sound of Freedom by Moustafa Fahmy, Mohamed Khalifa, and Mohamed Shaker.
"I went down and I said I am not coming back, and I wrote on every street wall that I am not coming back.
"All barriers have been broken down, our weapon was our dream, and the future is crystal clear to us, we have been waiting for a long time, we are still searching for our place, we keep searching for a place we belong too, in every corner in our country.
"The sound of freedom is calling, in every street corner in our country, the sound of freedom is calling..
"We will re-write history, if you are one of us, join us and don't stop us from fulfilling our dream.
This performance is from Grieg's "Haugtussa, op 67 (The Mountain Maid), 8 songs in Norwegian. Swedish mezzo, Anne Sofie von Otter singing, Bengt Forsberg, piano.
It's a repeat of an earlier post, but it bears repeating because Scandinavian music is also somewhat neglected by singers in America, perhaps due to the fact that Norwegian and Swedish aren't part of the standard German, French and Italian taught at conservatories.
Haugtussa is a beautiful song cycle to poems by Arne Garborg (1851-1924). "Grieg himself maintained that the 'Haugtussa' songs were the best he ever composed. The cycle is a richly varied poetic work which nonetheless possesses a high degree of unity. The poems are centred around Veslemoey, a visionary young herd girl from a wilderness area in southwestern Norway. Rejected by her lover, she tries to escape life's harsh realities and the indifference of those around her. In her visions she comes into contact with nature itself and the powers of the underworld."
This the fourth song in the cycle:
Møte, n°4 (The Enounter)
text in Norwegian (Nynorsk)
Ho sit ein Sundag lengtande i Li;
det strøymer på med desse søte Tankar,
og Hjarta fullt og tungt i Barmen bankar,
og Draumen vaknar, bivrande og blid.
Då gjeng det som ei Hildring yver Nuten;
ho raudner heit; - der kjem den vene Guten.
Burt vil ho gøyma seg i Ørska brå,
men stoggar tryllt og Augo mot han vender;
dei tek einannan i dei varme Hender
og stend so der og veit seg inkje Råd.
Då bryt ho ut i dette Undringsord:
"Men snille deg då, at du er så stor!"
Og som det lid til svale Kveldings Stund,
alt meir og meir i Lengt dei saman søkjer,
og brådt um Hals den unge Arm seg krøkjer
og øre skjelv dei saman Munn mot Munn.
Alt svimrar burt. Og der i Kvelden varm
i heite Sæle søv ho i hans Arm.
English Translation
One Sunday she sits pensive on the hillside,
while sweet thoughts flow over her,
and her heart beats full and heavy in her breast,
and a shy dream wakens within her.
Suddenly, enchantment steals along the hilltop.
She blushes red; there he comes, the boy she loves.
She wants to hide in her confusion,
but timidly she raises her eyes to him;
their warm hands reach out for one another,
and they stand there, neither knowing what to say.
Then she bursts out in admiration:
"My, how tall you are!"
And as the day moves softly into evening,
they turn to each other full of longing,
their young arms wind around each other's necks,
and trembling mouth meets mouth.
Everything shimmers away, and in the warm evening
She falls blissfully asleep in his arms.
This is Lynni Treekrem singing a beautiful composition by Ketil Bjørnstad, a composer I came across it by chance. It's actually hard to pin the style, straddling folk and a more modern idiom. I thought it would be interesting to hear what this rich poetry would sound like in the hands of a contemporary composer.
This is the prologue of the Haugtussa, Text: Arne Garborg (1851-1924) Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a translation.
Til deg, du Hei og bleike Myr
med Bukkeblad,
der Hegre stig og Heilo flyr,
eg gjev mitt Kvad.
Til deg, du visne Lyng um Haug,
der Draumar sviv,
eg gjev min Song um Dimd og Draug
og dulde Liv.
Eg kjenner deg, du Trollheim graa,
du Skugge-Natt!
Eg rømde rædd; men stundom maa
eg sjaa deg att.
Eg kjenner deg, du Havsens Marm,
med Galdre-Song;
du gauv meg Gru i rædde Barm
so mang ein Gong.
Eg kjenner Striden tung og sein
mot Trolldoms Vald.
Gud hjelpe oss for brotne Bein
og Mannefall!
Eg kjenner deg, - eg kjenner deg,
som ikkje vann! --
Eg saag din Strid, eg veit din Veg
i Skugge-Land.
Eg røynde sjølv den Striden stygg
i mange Aar,
med ville Mot, med bøygde Rygg,
med svære Saar.
Du um meg sviv, du hjaa meg sit,
du arme Aand!
I meg du enno riv og slit
i dine Baand.
Eg veit det væl: dei sterke Troll,
den Vilje rik;
ein Baat i Foss, eit Kvad i Moll,
sløkkt i eit Skrik. Â--
Men Lerka stig fraa gløymde Grav
med Sigers Ljod;
og Vinden stryker inn av Hav
so frisk og god.
Og um me kjenner Graat og Gru
og Saknad saar,
so maa me Lerkesongen tru,
som lovar Vaar.
Brahms (1833-1897) wrote 196 art songs. This is one of his masterpieces.
Fassbaender's recording was the one I listened to, many years ago — along with Fischer Dieskaus's — when I first learned this piece. Fassbaender is a great singer, who sings with commitment, passion, beauty of tone, great phrasing and attention the text. Never sentimental, she tells the story in the most direct and compelling way. I can't think of a better recording of this great piece. Irwin Cage plays beautifully.
It is important to note that the text has been falsely attributed in many additions to Joseph Wenzig. The error was made by Brahms when the piece was published and has been passed down by subsequent editions, but the text is from August Heinrich Hoffman von Falersleben's Gedichte of 1837 and is a free transcription of a translation from the Wendish by Leopold Haupt.
Von Ewiger Liebe/ Eternal Love
Dark, how dark it is in the forest and field!
It's already evening; now the world is silent.
Nowhere anymore light and nowhere anymore smoke.
Yes, and the lark is now silent too.
The lad is coming from the village,
He escorts his sweetheart home.
He leads her past the willow bushes,
Talking so much, and of so many things:
"If you suffer shame and if you grieve,
If you suffer disgrace before others because of me,
Then our love shall break apart as quickly as we came together.
Depart with the rain and depart with the wind,
As we were once united."
The maiden says, the maiden says:
"Our love cannot be torn asunder!
Steel is firm and iron very much so,
Yet our love is firmer still.
Iron and steel can be reforged.
But our love--who will transform it?
Iron and steel can disintegrate;
Our love, our love must endure eternally!"
Translation: Milagro Vargas
Here's Alexander Kipnis' version with Gerald Moore playing the piano for an excellent version with a male voice.
Composed by Charles Dumont, with lyrics by Michel Vaucaire, it was written in 1956, and is best known through its 1960 recording by the legendary Édith Piaf. The sound of her voice is unmistakable. She was the greatest popular singer of her time.
Non, rien de rien Non, je ne regrette rien Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal Non, rien de rien Non, je ne regrette rien C'est payé, balayé, oublié Je me fous du passé
Avec mes souvenirs, j'ai allumé le feu Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs, je n'ai plus besoin d'eux Balayées les amours, avec leurs trémolos Balayées pour toujours, je repars à zéro
Non, rien de rien Non, je ne regrette rien Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal Non, rien de rien Non, je ne regrette rien Car ma vie car mes joies Aujourd'hui, ça commence avec toi
English Translation
No! Absolutely nothing... No! I regret nothing Neither the good that I've done nor the bad All this is much the same to me!
No! Absolutely nothing... No! I regret nothing... It is paid, swept away, forgotten I don't care about the past!
With my souvenirs I lit a fire My sorrows, my pleasures I need them no more!
Swept away the love affairs With their tremors Swept away forever I leave with nothing ...
No! Absolutely nothing... No! I regret nothing Neither the good that I've done nor the bad All this is much the same to me!
No! Absolutely nothing... No! I regret nothing... Because my life, because my joys Today that begins with you!
Fischer Dieskau is heard here singing the second song in Mahler's orchestral song cycle Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.
The text was written by Mahler himself. The performance is quintessential Dieskau. He sings here with abandon, beautiful phrasing and great attention to color and the text It dates from the year 1960. The cycle tells the story of a young man who takes a journey, having lost his love to a another.
The piece is a staple of singers and orchestras. But there is also a very good chamber ensemble arrangement by Schönberg, which affords the opportunity to perform the piece with smaller forces.
Ging heut Morgen übers Feld/ I walked across the fields this morning
I walked across the fields this morning; dew still hung on the blades of grass. The merry finch spoke to me: "Hey! Isn't it? Good morning! Isn't it? You! Isn't it becoming a fine world? Chirp! Chirp! Fair and sharp! How the world delights me!" Also, the bluebells in the field merrily with good spirits tolled out to me with bells (ding, ding) their morning greeting: "Isn't it becoming a fine world? Ding, ding! Fair thing! How the world delights me!" And then, in the sunshine, the world suddenly began to glitter; everything gained sound and color in the sunshine! Flower and bird, great and small! "Good day, Is it not a fine world? Hey, isn't it? A fair world?" Now will my happiness also begin? No, no - the happiness I mean can never bloom!
Translation from Lied and Art Song Texts Page (see side bar for links)
There is a great treasure trove of ravishingly beautiful Russian music written for the voice by composers such as Glinka, Musorgsky, Rachmanivov, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and others. American singers don't program Russian music nearly as much as we should. Naturally, the language itself poses a bit of a stumbling block. I highly recommend taking a course in Russian diction or finding a Russian friend to help because the rewards are immense.
If you've never sung in Russian, I guarantee you that you can learn this piece and sing it on your next recital. This is one of Tchaikovky's earliest Romances and it is a gem.
Two performances by Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Olga Borodina.
Moi genie, moi angel, moi drug/ My genius, my angel, my friend
Composer:Tchaikovsky 1840-1893
Poet: Afanasii Afanas'evich Fet (1820–1892),
Russian Transliteration
Ne zdes' li ty ljogkoju ten'ju,
Moj genij, moj angel, moj drug,
Besedujesh' tikho so mnoju
I tikho letajesh' vokrug?
I robkim darish' vdokhnoven'jem,
I sladkij krachujesh' nedug,
I tikhim darish' snoviden'em,
Moj genij, moj angel, moj drug!
English translation
Isn't it here,
My my genius, my angel, my friend,
That you are talking to me softly,
And flying quietly around like a light shadow?
You are giving me a timid inspiration,
And healing my sweet ailments,
And giving me a quiet dream,
My angel, my genius, my friend!
Pauline Viardot,1821-1910, daughter of Manuel Garcia, the famous tenor and vocal pedagogue, was a major figure in her time. She was fluent in four languages by the age four, and she was an extremely gifted piano prodigy. She became a celebrated mezzo soprano and was well known for her extensive range, excellent technique and her expressive stage presence. She taught at the Paris Conservatory from 1871-1875.
Bartoli features some of her songs on her album, Chant D'Amour. This is one of the pieces on that album. It may not stand up to Schubert, Debussy or Brahms, but the melodic writing is beautiful and the piece offers the singer an opportunity for great expression,sensuality and agility. The style is a mixture of Spanish and French idioms, which are drawn from Viardot's Spanish/French background.
I'm not including a translation here because listening to the performance is all one needs to do. Bartoli is absolutely enthralling.
I discovered this piece in my twenties. I was fascinated by Schubert's treatment of the text. The phrase "Du liebst mich nicht/ You don't love me" is heard ten times. The modulations that emphasize the emotional text, the chromaticism and the unrelenting rhythmic figures all made the piece unique and compelling. The piece is sung here by Eileen Farrell (1920-2002) who sings it not only with her superb voice but with passion, subtlety and excellent German diction.
You'll find it as the third song of a wonderful group of Schubert Lieder. It appears at 10:05-13:50 to be precise. It's a piece that I've heard rarely in concerts. I'm not sure why. It does require a voice capable of producing both a strong dramatic quality as well as lyricism and excellent control over dynamics.
In her book, Can't Help Singing, she summed up the requirements for singing: "phrasing,rhythmic flexibility (and) the ability to tell a story in song." She does it all here.
Composer: Franz Schubert(1797-1828) Text: August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796-1835)
This poem represents the interest of poets of the time in oriental verse. Platen's poem come a volume called Ghazelen. The form originated in Arabic verse and one of the characteristics is that it contains five or more couplets and the second couplet usually ends with a repetition or refrain of of one or a few words. Here it is: Du liebst mich nicht!
My heart has been torn apart: you do not love me! You've made it very clear that you do not love me! Although I come before you, begging and entreating,overflowing with love, you do not love me! You've told me with your words, quite explicitly: you do not love me!
I must forgo the stars, the moon, the sun, for you do not love me! What does it matter to me that roses bloom, or jasmine; What does it matter that the narcissus blooms when you do not love me!
In keeping with music from Latin America, listen to what is certainly considered a definitive performance of a beloved piece by Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959). Victoria de los Ángeles is incomparable! Also, listen to Bidu Sayão!
This is the fifth Bachiana from the series of nine suites, which constitutes the complete series Bachianas Brasileiras. This one is scored for soprano and orchestra of violoncelli (1938/45).
The two movements are: Aria (Cantilena) (lyrics by Ruth V. Corrêa) Dansa (Martelo) (lyrics by Manuel Bandeira)
This is the first of Granados' Canciones Amatorias, Descúbrase el pensamiento, beautifully sung by Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.
There is an excellent recording by Bernarda Fink available that includes all the songs. The songs are suitable for a soprano with good low notes or mezzos with a strong upper range.
These pieces are not done as often as the Tonadillas but include some of his finest writing. The folklike melodies are combined with challenging piano and vocal writing and rich harmonies with frequent modulations to distant keys, especially in this first song. The pieces should be done more often. The end is especially daring harmonically!
Descúbrase el pensamiento
Poet: Anoymous
Music by Enrique Granados 1867- 1916
Discover the thought
of my well guarded secret,
and reveal my anguish,
my passionate life.
My passion is not new;
I've already suffered endlessly.
I am servant to a lady
who has forgotten my servitude.
Her beauty made me hers,
Her polished gesture,
is engraved in my soul.
Ah! Woe is me
who gazed on her
only to live in injury,
to weep and lament
glories of times gone by.
Ah! She has forgotten my servitude.
Welcome to SongLiedMélodie. This blog was created to provide a place to discuss the music and texts of vocal performances of various styles and languages. All materials found here are for educational purposes only. For the time being, the topics are organized according to geographic locations. The first topic was The Music of Spain and South America. The Links and Labels below should be helpful in finding what you are looking for. Enjoy.
