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
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