Vocalist.org archive


From: "DIANE M. CLARK (MUSIC DEPARTMENT)"
Subject: Re: Brahms "Four Serious Songs"
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

John wrote:

>>Definitely composed for Bass. Brahms even writes in a letter (8 May 1896)
that it would be "ridiculous to let a girl or tenor sing them".

I hope he changed his mind when the sounds of Kathleen Ferrier's beautiful
rendition wafted up to heaven. I love to sing these songs myself. They lie
wonderfully in my voice, and I think I do them very well. (I use the high
key.) Of course, I certainly do enjoy them sung by a good bass. Richard
Vernon did them in his October Memphis recital, and they were stunning.

|\ Dr. Diane M. Clark, Assoc. Prof./Chair of Music Dept., Rhodes College
| 2000 N. Parkway, Memphis, TN 38112, 901-843-3782, dclark-at-rhodes.edu
() http://gray.music.rhodes.edu/musichtmls/faculty/dclark.html