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To: vocalist
Subject: RE: Brahms "Four Serious Songs"
Date sent: Fri, 7 Jan 2000 10:05:03 -0500
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Jeff,
Thank you for your helpful information on the "Vier Ernste Gesaenge."

I have one last question. In the second song, "contralto edition", there is
one place where there are optional notes. I assume Brahms originally wanted
the higher notes?

Thanks,
Bill Alley
Baritone
Boston, MA
email:balley-at-mcp.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeffrey Snider [mailto:bmoc_unt-at-iwon.com]
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 8:52 AM
To: VOCALIST
Subject: RE: Brahms "Four Serious Songs"


The "Vier Ernste Gesa"nge" were originally composed for baritone voice. They
ARE available in even lower keys. The "contralto version" is OK as long as
the keys are the same. The International Music Company edition of Brahms
songs has them in the "low" volume. They are also in the Dover edition
(volume four, I believe.)

The original keys are:

I-d minor
II-g minor/g major
III-e minor/E major
IV-E-flat major

Also, note that the first two texts are from Ecclesiates. The third song is
NOT from Ecclesiastes (as listed in Carol Kimball's book, among other
places) but rather from "Ecclesiasticus" (or Jesus Sirach) which is from the
books that make up the "Apochrypha" which may be found in Catholic bibles.
The last song, of course, is from the "Love Chapter" of 1st Corinthians
(13).

And yes, they are great songs.

Jeffrey Snider, DMA
Chair, Division of Vocal Studies
College of Music
University of North Texas
Denton, TX USA
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