>-- Original Message -- >To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com >From: Earl Presley <egpburk@s...> >Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 17:00:46 -0800 (PST) >Subject: Re: [vocalist] Question >Reply-To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com > > > When you right your own material and it sells with you performing >it, then you can critique her!
This is absolute nonsense. To be frank, I can critique who I want. I can recognise that Andre Agassi is a good tennis player, even though I am not one myself. I can certainly say that Mariah Carey's amazing (and almost certainly ficticious) range does nothing for me. I am not particularly impressed with her singing no matter what range she sings in. That is a matter of personal taste. To put the record straight, I have performed in many genres over the past 15 years. I have written music for rock bands, jazz groups, chamber ensembles and choirs. Some has been recorded, and much has been performed - which to me is far more important. I am not criticising her for performing in a non-classical genre - I am saying that I am not impressed purely because it is reported that she has an enormous range.
>Classical musicians tend to get caught up in creating a "note >for note", technique >by technique, mentality that is not musical, artistic, or >creative. We would >do well to understand that the great composers were >improvisationists first, creative to a fault. We should >commend those who extend that craft.
Again, this is a ridiculous statement. Are you really suggesting that no classical singers are musical or creative? Have you never listened to different interpretations, especially in Lieder? I have never given the statement that I dislike all pop singers, because I don't! However, Mariah Carey is not one that I have ever been taken by. Her inability to sing a straight note annoys me - I'm not that keen on baroque coloratura either, so it's personal taste not just genre. I just feel that people suggest she should be given greater credit purely because of this myth that she has a greater range than a piano - which she doesn't.
Colin Reed, tenor Newark, UK
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