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To: "Vocalist" <vocalist>
Subject: RE: Cantique de noel: musicologists' answers to rhythm qu=
estion (long-ish)
Date sent: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 13:54:42 -0500
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Dear List:

In my quest to sing the "original" version of Cantique de Noel (O Holy
Night) I ended up posting the question on a Musicologists Discussion List.
What a great source they are! I should have thought of them long ago! (And
they have a collectively great sense of humor too, BTW)

Here are only two of the many responses I received:

----- Original Message -----
From: "Vivian S. Ramalingam "
IMO, the dots against triplets in 4/4 is how Adam would have written it;
the all triplets in 12/8 is how it would have been performed. The reasons
for this notational convention are not known to me, so I am forwarding
this to my dear friend Bob Laudon, who knows EVERYTHING.

Vivian Ramalingam

From: Bob Laudon

The only real help that I can extend comes from my attendance at a
residency which Martial Singher had years ago (I accompanied one of the
singers). He cited that composition as one of the compositions that singer=
s
nearly always performed incorrectly with the rhythms performed in simple
triplets as if it were in 12/8. He firmly insisted upon the real dotted
notes which he felt were not only correct but removed the song from the
realm of the sentimental into the more vigorous joy that should be
experienced by the listener. I can only assume that he knew the correct
edition.

Adam is briefly mentioned in Fritz Noske's La M=E9lodie Fran=E7aise but on=
ly
with a passing mention in a discussion of the "romance." I do not seem to
have a biography of Adam. His music has been tinkered with greatly. The
ballet Le Corsaire, broadcast last night, is now considered to be the work
of at least 5 composers!!! Since he is essentially a 19th-century composer=
,
his work would fall beyond the older French tradition which equated the
dotted notes with simple triplets. Certainly French religious songs of the
19th-century were not without sentimentality. The famous Gounod Sanctus is
a good example of the triplet idea.

Sorry Vivian that I have failed you and even more sorry, Ms. Sharp, that I
cannot offer you a definitive answer. At least part of my anatomy is
"shaking like a bowl full of jelly" after Vivian's outrageous claim.
Meanwhile, the happiest of seasons.

Bob Laudon

If you get a true answer, I should be interested to get the name of "celui
qui sait tous" ou peut-=EAtre celle qui sait tous. The opposite, Vivian, o=
f
your statement came in the words of a mezzo whose husband insisted that sh=
e
tell Germans "Ich weiss nicht" but she, unfortunately kept saying "Ich
weiss nichts." So there was a person who knew nothing at all.