|
stuart macrae
|
 |
« on: 19:59:25, 13-09-2007 » |
|
What are the best pieces of music to sing, and why? (Don't worry, it doesn't have to be something you actually can sing!  ) And in that spirit, I'll start: I've always wanted to sing Beethoven's Ode to Joy, because its simple melody and rhythm let a choir go at full rip, really singing together - which, of course, is entirely in the spirit of the text and is what makes it such an expression of Joy! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
oliver sudden
|
|
« Reply #1 on: 20:05:41, 13-09-2007 » |
|
My best sing ever on the let-rip front: Mahler 8. I think I've done it 3 times, in Sydney and Melbourne in 2000 and 2001.
I retain fond memories of the first full rehearsal with Simon Halsey. At one point he stopped us to say something to the effect of "some of the tenors down here are spitting out the consonants to the point where it's becoming a caricature". (Ollie and friends suddenly discover something very interesting on the floor requiring urgent contemplation.) "You are the people I want to spend the rest of my life with." (Ollie and friends unsuccessfully fight back the urge to beam beatifically.)
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Reiner Torheit
|
|
« Reply #2 on: 20:23:45, 13-09-2007 » |
|
I think everyone ought to have the chance to sing Im wunderschoenen Monat Mai, to understand what the "Romantic" ethos is about. Ideally somewhere outdoors in a field  |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"I was, for several months, mutely in love with a coloratura soprano, who seemed to me to have wafted straight from Paradise to the stage of the Odessa Opera-House"
- Leon Trotsky, "My Life"
|
|
|
|
oliver sudden
|
|
« Reply #3 on: 20:30:10, 13-09-2007 » |
|
I've sung it many times, Reiner (along with the rest of Dichterliebe), but fortunately never for a paying audience. And yes, it's certainly another Good Sing. Especially getting to the end of a reasonably successful Ich grolle nicht. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
rauschwerk
|
|
« Reply #4 on: 10:27:43, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Amongst big pieces I have particularly enjoyed: Berlioz Te Deum (the way he screws up the tension in the Judex Crederis is really exciting), Britten Spring Symphony (fantastic exhilaration at the end when the boys enter), VW Toward the Unknown Region and Dona Nobis Pacem, Brahms Requiem (especially the penultimate movement). I'll list some smaller pieces later perhaps.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Mary Chambers
|
|
« Reply #5 on: 10:38:45, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Almost everything I've ever sung seems like a good sing at the time, but I'd go along with Mahler 8 as being one of the best, and the end of Mahler 2. Also the Verdi Requiem, Berlioz Grande Messe des Morts, Britten War Requiem (except that's a bit shattering), anything by Handel or Haydn (Haydn's easy and rewarding), Bach B Minor Mass or either of the Passions, though again "a good sing" is perhaps inappropriate for something so moving. Anything by Mozart is good, too.
Smaller pieces - Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb is a gorgeous sing, as is his Hymn to St Cecilia (unaccompanied - I love anything unaccompanied, including madrigals).
And Oliver - I too have sung Dichterliebe many times, not to mention the Schubert song cycles, but like you, luckily not to a paying audience, or in my case any audience at all. Oh, and I can beat your Mahler 8 total - I've done it 8 times, I think!
I could go on, and on, and on - maybe I will later.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
martle
|
|
« Reply #6 on: 10:56:14, 14-09-2007 » |
|
One of my endlessly-deferred resolutions is to sing in a choir again. Haven't done it for years, and it's just a fabulous experience, and VERY good for your ears and all-round musicianship.
Highlights from my singing (choral) past include that Mahler 2 ending, definitely (he makes you go into a sort of through-the-pain-barrier ecstasy, somehow), Beethoven 9, St John Passion, Rachmaninov Vespers (wow). It wasn't really 'singing', but taking part in the speaking/shouting chorus in Berio's Laborintus II, coached by the man himself, was a great thrill - screaming 'usura!' at the top of your voice: highly recommended catharsis.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Green. Always green.
|
|
|
|
autoharp
|
|
« Reply #7 on: 14:28:40, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Cornelius Cardew - The Great Learning Paragraphs 3 and 7. They don't need trained singers, so you, yes even you, could take part.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Colin Holter
|
|
« Reply #8 on: 14:42:12, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Amen to Martle's citation of the Rachmaninov Vespers and of course the Dichterliebe; I'll also name-check the Ives thread, where I mentioned "General William Booth Enters Into Heaven."
One of my personal favorites, however, is the "Confutatis" from the Verdi Requiem. Even if you were brought up in a non-religious household, as I was, there's something awe-inspiring–in an old-timey, shall-we-gather-at-the-river sense–about those descending octaves.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
David_Underdown
|
|
« Reply #9 on: 15:24:22, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Amen to the RVW above (plus Sea Symphony which I've jsut started rehearsing again) and Brahms.
Never actually sung B9 but I understand it's actually in a rather awkward part of the voice, particularly for sops and tenors.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
--
David
|
|
|
|
aaron cassidy
|
|
« Reply #10 on: 15:33:15, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Smaller pieces - Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb is a gorgeous sing Yes yes yes. My most rewarding recent sing was two of the Bach motets (I think I've now done them all at one point or another, save Fuerchte dich nicht) -- bloody hard, long, demanding, exhausting, but absolutely glorious. And every damn note counts. One of my little dreams at the moment is to somehow get to do them in an ovpp ensemble (where they'd be even more demanding!). It's been ... goodness ... 17 years since I last sang it, but ... Beethoven 9 really is a special experience as a singer. The last time I did it was in an international choral festival in Seoul, and having choirs from every last corner of the globe all on stage for that piece was exhilarating. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
eruanto
Guest
|
|
« Reply #11 on: 15:43:38, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Bruckner Ave Maria contains a top F for the altos, which I always look forward to attempting to produce, for one reason or another... |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Mary Chambers
|
|
« Reply #12 on: 15:51:36, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Berlioz Grande Messe des Morts doesn't have an alto part at all. I had to toil along with the sopranos.
Another glorious (very) short one - Bruckner's Locus Iste.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
eruanto
Guest
|
|
« Reply #13 on: 15:56:54, 14-09-2007 » |
|
Berlioz Grande Messe des Morts doesn't have an alto part at all. I had to toil along with the sopranos.
Such injustice! Let's form a union! Locus iste (and the other Bruckner motets) are only good when sung well. I've sung it so many times I've got tired of it. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
stuart macrae
|
|
« Reply #14 on: 15:57:24, 14-09-2007 » |
|
I used to enjoy Haydn's The Heavens are Telling (aka The Heavens are Yelling)
Locus iste is good, but can turn into a bit of a dirge on sleepy Sunday mornings...!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
