tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post1256878705329205736..comments2023-10-11T14:18:03.816+01:00Comments on Works Well: Taking the scenic routeRoderick Robinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-69514812882554438242011-07-25T15:53:07.268+01:002011-07-25T15:53:07.268+01:00RW (zS): Finally tracked down the lady with the de...RW (zS): Finally tracked down the lady with the degree in biomedical engineering singing something I could judge her on. Two things in fact: an unidentified Handel aria (there are a lot of them) where her technique was well up to all the twiddly bits, and as Zerlina in Don Giovanni singing La Ci Darem la Mano with a guy called Hampson. She can't act for toffee but her soprano voice truly bounced along. In a recording of a Canadian radio show she mentioned singing Susanna (Mozart: Figaro) which would have given me the widest scope possible for judgement but I couldn't find any tracks. I liked her tango stuff but it may have been a bit too smooth; to be authentic it has to be rougher, sort of spat out. But what would I know?<br /><br />HHB: I may be wrong but I think Rutter figured a lot in that series about church music Simon Russell Beale (great actor) did with Harry Christophers and the Sixteen did on BBC2. I was entranced by the Pie Jesu, not least because the score - such wonderfully simple writing - unreeled before my eyes, proving that you can pare good music right down to the bone and still have the power to move people. Which it did. Thanks for that HHB.Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-80736194287510327102011-07-25T14:36:23.356+01:002011-07-25T14:36:23.356+01:00I listened to 'Did you not hear my lady' (...I listened to 'Did you not hear my lady' (I believe the version I heard was sung by Aled Jones). A new song to me, but I liked it's sweet purity.<br /><br />I leave you with the 'bit' of Rutter's Requiem I found myself humming....Pie Jesu<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evVeuhUtxd8&feature=relatedherhimnbrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01182397064631016552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-18415063584141281112011-07-25T11:01:38.790+01:002011-07-25T11:01:38.790+01:00HHB: Oh HHB I am infinitely grateful to you. The a...HHB: Oh HHB I am infinitely grateful to you. The above post was written (somewhat inadequately it seems to have turned out) with my throat tight and lachrymose as I pondered and re-pondered the words and tinkled away on the keyboard. Perhaps I tried to be too clever when I should have taken the example of the song itself and kept things simple. Whatever. Struck by your admission of tears (with which I willingly concur) and knowing what lay ahead I switched Google to Videos and slotted in Did You Not See My Lady.<br /><br />The first thing I discovered is that the opening line is Did You Not <em>Hear</em> My Lady which of course makes more sense. Also that the song is known as Silent Worship. Listening then to a version by a man with a comparatively modest voice (never found out his name) I discovered that the two-line solo piano introduction has a gorgeous little variant on the second line which smote my heart. And finally Thomas Allen with orchestral accompaniment, possibly at a Proms some years ago. Yet another discovery: the tempo is brisk, neither singer lingered.<br /><br />But the main thing is your reference to tears. I Googled knowing they would happen and they did. Nothing to be ashamed of. In fact a glorious affirmation of what music can do. Thank you again.Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-90662370710466102172011-07-25T10:16:49.638+01:002011-07-25T10:16:49.638+01:00Music has such power, doesn't it?
While gazin...Music has such power, doesn't it?<br /><br />While gazing out of the studio window yesterday, to rest my eyes, I found myself humming part of Rutter's Requiem. It provided a welcome break and brought tears too, that particular part always does for me. However, my eyes felt better for it.herhimnbrynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01182397064631016552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-44156488252867612242011-07-24T07:02:50.090+01:002011-07-24T07:02:50.090+01:00RW (zS): Will try her and report back.
Avus: Didn...RW (zS): Will try her and report back.<br /><br />Avus: Didn't see it as criticism. A failure on my part to pass on the emotion.Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-64718318375941272312011-07-23T17:22:16.962+01:002011-07-23T17:22:16.962+01:00Not meant as a criticism, BB. Merely remarking tha...Not meant as a criticism, BB. Merely remarking that, whilst enjoying music, I am absolutely illiterate when it comes to the technicalitiesAvushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16512540148378201058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-20297965501055449322011-07-23T00:56:38.895+01:002011-07-23T00:56:38.895+01:00Your musical tastes have inspired me over the year...Your musical tastes have inspired me over the years, BB. I have recently re-discovered the Canadian soprano, Isabel Bayrakdarian [ http://www.bayrakdarian.com/ ]. Do you know her work? I'll have to look up if she's sung Handel ...Rouchswalwehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01393987883437907945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-45258859780640004812011-07-22T10:39:38.527+01:002011-07-22T10:39:38.527+01:00Avus: Quite depressed about that. Didn't think...Avus: Quite depressed about that. Didn't think I was capable of depth since my technical knowledge of music is sketchy at best and my aim was to talk as non-technically as possible about very simple music. The usual problem: one likes a piece of music, should one at least try to say why? Or if not, hymn the personal pleasure (ie, with no one in earshot) of picking out a tune on some instrument or other with a single finger or its equivalent. Must try harder.Roderick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16828395545197001637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4763772100015353700.post-27870175133251325122011-07-21T20:55:29.466+01:002011-07-21T20:55:29.466+01:00Your musical musings are too deep for me, BB, but ...Your musical musings are too deep for me, BB, but "Did you not see my Lady" is a great favourite of mine.Avushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16512540148378201058noreply@blogger.com