The Pronunciation Thread

[chopininov]

I have trouble pronouncing the names of some of the composers and their music. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one that has trouble with this. So I'll begin with a few easy ones:

Chopin is [show-PAHN]
Etude is [AY-tood] or [ay-TOOD]
Beethoven is [BAY-tow-ven]

It also might help to add the definitions of some, like:
L'isle Joyeuse is "The Island of Joy" or "The Merry Isle"

[ganymed]

my question is: how to pronounce  gespard de la nuit ?

[wotgoplunk]

my question is: how to pronounce  gespard de la nuit ?

gəs-PAR de la nwee [new-ee]

[chopininov]

What does gaspard de la nuit mean? 

[wotgoplunk]

What does gaspard de la nuit mean? 

It's French for "b*****d of the night" 

[chopininov]

It's French for "b*****d of the night" 

Rofl...ya, that pretty much sums it up...

[chopininov]

What about Bortkiewicz? He's one of my favorite composers, and yet I don't know how to say his name.

[quantum]

Rzewski?

"Watchet auf, ruft uns de Stimme"?

"Victime paschali laudes"?

"Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus"?

[wotgoplunk]

What about Bortkiewicz? He's one of my favorite composers, and yet I don't know how to say his name.

BORT-key-vich

I believe.

[gszo0]

bort - KYE - vitch

Believe me. I'm Polish. 

[wotgoplunk]

Hehe, take his advice over mine 

[thalbergmad]

Rzewski?

Kom-pleete-krapp

[retrouvailles]

Aww come on thal. You have to admit. His music is really good.

And its 'zheff-skee' by the way.

[thalbergmad]

Me did enjoy some of the people united thingy, but there was one other work that i heard, which was ear offensive.

Thal

[houseofblackleaves]

but there was one other work that i heard, which was ear offensive.

Cotton Mill Blues?

[alpacinator1]

Alkan?

Mily Balakirev?

Sergei? (As in Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, etc.)

[retrouvailles]

Alkan?

Mily Balakirev?

Sergei? (As in Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, etc.)

Ahl-kahn

Mih-lee Bah-lah-kee-rehv

Sehr-gey

[richard black]

I can't believe there aren't some websites that tell you how to pronounce most of the common languages. Anyway, since this message board doesn't support the International Phonetic Alphabet it's a bit hard to help you. But 'Show-pan' is wrong for a start - 'Sho' not 'Show and the final 'n' is basically mute.

[mcgillcomposer]

I can't believe there aren't some websites that tell you how to pronounce most of the common languages. Anyway, since this message board doesn't support the International Phonetic Alphabet it's a bit hard to help you. But 'Show-pan' is wrong for a start - 'Sho' not 'Show and the final 'n' is basically mute.

Ya, it is pretty difficult when everyone is using their own phonetic system.

Using these various methods, the prononciation of Chopin in this thread seems to be way off no matter how one tries to describe it.

[mike_lang]

I can't believe there aren't some websites that tell you how to pronounce most of the common languages. Anyway, since this message board doesn't support the International Phonetic Alphabet it's a bit hard to help you. But 'Show-pan' is wrong for a start - 'Sho' not 'Show and the final 'n' is basically mute.

In the second syllable, is it nasal "e" as in "vin" or nasal "a" as in "prendre"?  My normal diction knowledge indicates the former, but my french teacher's pronunciation with nasal "a" suggests that "Chopin" is an exception to normal diction rules.

Thanks,
Michael

[mcgillcomposer]

In the second syllable, is it nasal "e" as in "vin" or nasal "a" as in "prendre"?  My normal diction knowledge indicates the former, but my french teacher's pronunciation with nasal "a" suggests that "Chopin" is an exception to normal diction rules.

Thanks,
Michael

It depends on where you are. In France they tend toward the latter - in Quebec they tend toward the former.

[ahinton]

my question is: how to pronounce  gespard de la nuit ?

You could try spelling it correctly first!...

Best,

Alistair

[soderlund]

Shouldnt the double ee in Beethoven be pronounced more like the e in pet, but longer, rather than Baythoven. I think that would sound like a very English way of saying it, just like Show-pin.

[mike_lang]

Shouldnt the double ee in Beethoven be pronounced more like the e in pet, but longer, rather than Baythoven. I think that would sound like a very English way of saying it, just like Show-pin.

I believe double e's are closed, as a rule.

Best,
Michael

[thalbergmad]

Cotton Mill Blues?

Thats the one old chap.

Well done.

Thal

[richard black]

In the second syllable, is it nasal "e" as in "vin" or nasal "a" as in "prendre"?  My normal diction knowledge indicates the former, but my french teacher's pronunciation with nasal "a" suggests that "Chopin" is an exception to normal diction rules.

Could be, but then it's not really a French name anyway, so fine distinctions like that are a bit arbitrary. Any Polish speakers around here like to weigh in?

[bob3.1415926]

The one I find really funny and pronounced incorrectly for years is

Hanon : Ar - none  (he's French!)

[ganymed]

unfortunately i never had french in school thats why i dont really know how to write the name of ravels piece!

@ahinton then correct me if you want to 

[mcgillcomposer]

Could be, but then it's not really a French name anyway, so fine distinctions like that are a bit arbitrary. Any Polish speakers around here like to weigh in?

Just because he was born in Poland does not mean his last name is Polish.

[mike_lang]

Could be, but then it's not really a French name anyway, so fine distinctions like that are a bit arbitrary. Any Polish speakers around here like to weigh in?

I just found this today - of some interest.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070825150919AACk98v

[Kassaa]

Cotton Mill Blues?

That piece just rocks, and the middle part is quite beautiful. The clusters in the beginning depict the slaves working at a cotton mill, doing their monotonous, repetitive work.

[chopininov]

Ok, i have some.
How do you say Saint-Saens, Le Gibet, and Berceuse?

[mike_lang]

Ok, i have some.
How do you say Saint-Saens, Le Gibet, and Berceuse?

Saint-Saens - nasal E, nasal A, pronounce the final s

Berceuse - bear (uvular R)- ceuze (eu as in peu)

Poo-lenk, anyone?

[retrouvailles]

For Poulenc, I say "poo-lahnk".

[daniloperusina]

Could be, but then it's not really a French name anyway, so fine distinctions like that are a bit arbitrary. Any Polish speakers around here like to weigh in?

But it is a french name. His father was french, named Chopin, moved to Poland to join some freedom-fighters, married a polish woman. When Chopin lived in France, he was unaware of having relatives there. His father hadn't told him.

[gszo0]

daniloperusina you are right. What's interesting here in Poland 'Chopin' is frequently written as 'Szopen' (polish phonetical transcription for 'Chopin') in some cases, e.g. street names. His first names 'Frédéric François' were adopted by Szopen when he decided to live in Paris. Originally they were 'Fryderyk Franciszek'.

[cygnusdei]

What about Moscheles?

[thalbergmad]

Interesting one as i have never heard anyone speak his name.

So, i wonder if it is Mosh el eeze or perhaps moe shells.

I would rather like to know.

Thal

[daniloperusina]

Mosh el ess, I think.

[thalbergmad]

Thank you old chap.

How about Szymanowski?

Thal

[cygnusdei]

Mosh el ess, I think.

Are those strong or weak e's? I thought it could be MOSK-LEEZE ....

[retrouvailles]

Thank you old chap.

How about Szymanowski?

Thal

Shee - mah - nohv - skee

[thalbergmad]

Gawd, i never imagined it sounded like that.

Chausson anyone?

Thal

[ahinton]

Thank you old chap.

How about Szymanowski?

Thal

Great idea! Great composer!

Best,

Alistair

[retrouvailles]

Gawd, i never imagined it sounded like that.

Chausson anyone?

Thal

Shaw - sohn (nasal o)

[mike_lang]

Shaw - sohn (nasal o)

Sho-sohn (nasal o)

[chopininov]

How about Moszkowski? Is it [moe-SKOV-ski]?

And is it Rachmaninov or Rachmaninoff? Why do people spell it differently? Why not just spell it the way he did?

[jakev2.0]

How does one pronounce:

JOHN FIELD?

 

[retrouvailles]

How about Moszkowski? Is it [moe-SKOV-ski]?

And is it Rachmaninov or Rachmaninoff? Why do people spell it differently? Why not just spell it the way he did?

Mos-kov-ski is correct. Also, those two spellings of his name are equally correct because the Russian Рахманинов can be transliterated into either form equally fine. I don't now how he personally spelled it in English.

[jlh]

How does one pronounce:

JOHN FIELD?

 

Yonn-Fyeelda, duh!