And some Schubert

[furtwaengler]

Selections from Die schöne Müllerin:

Wohin?
Halt!
Am Feierabend
Der Neugierige (sublime)
Ungeduld

(Time constraints...On the same concert a baritone sang Finzi's "Let Us Garlands Bring" without its centerpiece, "Fear no more the heat of the sun." What is this thing with time?)

^I wish I could share that Finzi, but I can't get it off the DVD for some reason. Vista and Realtek have no wave out mix, and the file from the DVD cut short of the Finzi, though it plays it on the DVD...When I was experimenting I came out with the most outrageous result. I'll post it on the improvisation board.  

Anyway, I love Die schöne Müllerin, and this was a sort of romantic sense of discovery...and this wonderful tenor let me be free to improvise and explore. Tell me what you think.

(of course it is the same recital as this, January 30, 2007.

I hope this is welcome. It is very good music!

[mistermoe]

Hi there!

First i have to say it's so great to hear some songs in the audition room! Makes me happy  

Oh i love the Müllerin, too! Increadible music!
Beautiful voice, lots of colors. And nice playing and accompaning. I really liked the Neugierige! You both took a lot of liberties there and i really liked that a lot. The only little remark i could do is about the beginning. For me the first 2 measures are some kind of questioning, as its about somebody beeing really curious, almost impatient (remember which song is following^^). In fact, you already ask what the singer is asking later in the song: yes or no/does she love me (you got the complete song in those 2 measures - pure genius). So i would try to play it like you would ask that question. (i found you were accentuating each beat to much)
In Ungeduld, i wouldn't slow down so much in the solo at the end of the song as it's not the last song of this cycle and i think it doesn't really fit the mood of the song. (I love the text of the last verse btw)

Besides that i really enjoyed all those songs! Thanks for sharing this!

[birba]

I think everyone here has to thank you for posting such lovely music.  The piano in the Schubert songs is so vital and inventive.  You both did a wonderful job.  You're a very fine accompanist as well as a first-rate pianist.  Der Neugierige was particularly beautiful.
Personally, I feel the Ungeduld a bit faster.  I know those repeated notes are difficult to portray without effort and banging.  But it was convincing nonetheless.
Thank you again!  Let's hear more!

[furtwaengler]

Hi there!

First i have to say it's so great to hear some songs in the audition room! Makes me happy 

Oh i love the Müllerin, too! Increadible music!
Beautiful voice, lots of colors. And nice playing and accompaning. I really liked the Neugierige! You both took a lot of liberties there and i really liked that a lot. The only little remark i could do is about the beginning. For me the first 2 measures are some kind of questioning, as its about somebody beeing really curious, almost impatient (remember which song is following^^). In fact, you already ask what the singer is asking later in the song: yes or no/does she love me (you got the complete song in those 2 measures - pure genius). So i would try to play it like you would ask that question. (i found you were accentuating each beat to much)
In Ungeduld, i wouldn't slow down so much in the solo at the end of the song as it's not the last song of this cycle and i think it doesn't really fit the mood of the song. (I love the text of the last verse btw)

Besides that i really enjoyed all those songs! Thanks for sharing this!

Hey, thanks for the very kind, very detailed, very perceptive response! It seems I was tiptoeing around the issue. All in all it is maybe not the most conventional Neugierige, but I like the moment it created. I wouldn't slow down at the end of Ungeduld either! I don't really remember what went into that decision, but it was probably because its how we had to close the set, time constraints and all. Its a momentum breaker, and I've heard it straight to the end as an encore. I wish I could work with this tenor again...he's infinite expressive and has such a love for singing.

I think everyone here has to thank you for posting such lovely music.  The piano in the Schubert songs is so vital and inventive.  You both did a wonderful job.  You're a very fine accompanist as well as a first-rate pianist.  Der Neugierige was particularly beautiful.
Personally, I feel the Ungeduld a bit faster.  I know those repeated notes are difficult to portray without effort and banging.  But it was convincing nonetheless.
Thank you again!  Let's hear more!

Thanks, Birba, you're too kind. I've never been able to do such repeated figures well (though I recently played the Erlking with a trumpet player (!) and thought it went pretty well...save the fact I was my page turner ) Even then there was a little bit of a tempo fight. I still love these songs!

[mistermoe]

I wouldn't slow down at the end of Ungeduld either!

Haha! That made me laugh!

I don't really remember what went into that decision, but it was probably because its how we had to close the set, time constraints and all.

I was really glad to read this. It shows, that music is and has to be lively, executed in the very moment, affected (consciously and unconsciously) by everything around us, everything in us. Being able to react to all this kind of things is a great talent you definatly have!

[pianowolfi]

I love Schubert, more than many many other composers, and I love to listen to this rendition!  
Since I'm basically on the go I won't write a lot, but I'll come back to it when I return after a few weeks.

[furtwaengler]

Thanks a lot, Wolfi. Are you going any place specially or just cycling around? 

[pianowolfi]

Thanks a lot, Wolfi. Are you going any place specially or just cycling around? 

Yeah I'm gonna cycling around in France

[furtwaengler]

Yeah, now would be the time to tour de France. Have fun on your journeys. 

[rachfan]

Hi Dave,

I just listened to these wonderful songs of Schubert's "Die schone Mullerin".  Congratulations to both the fine tenor and most sympathetic accompanist.  This is a very beautiful performance.  In my young days I accompanied a few sopranos, so am quite familiar with the demands of the art.  Never once did you rush the tenor, deny him a breath, or overshadow the voice.  And whenever it was appropriate, you let the piano part shine.  Very sensitive playing indeed.  This posting was a nice change of pace as we hear little collaborative music making here.  Thanks for posting it!

David

[ramseytheii]

Wonderful performances.  I love the tenor voice.  I absolutely commend you for posting songs, and especially songs of such quality, and so well-performed.

It seems that one logs on these days to the Audition Room, only to spit up in ones mouth a little, as one sees that the top thousand responses are to deliberately junky performances of standard repertoire.  Don't our colleagues want to hear the piano sound beautiful?

Don't they want to hear a performance like this, with beautiful, unpretentious phrasing, with such excellent balance between the parts, with such an exemplary experience of chamber music?  Don't they want to hear good music, sound good?

I know I do, and I thank you for that.

Walter Ramsey

[furtwaengler]

^Hey, thanks very much, Walter!

[emill]

Hi !!!!

I wish I could be more techinical, but my lack of music education prevents me from;
but my ears and my soul tells me you and the tenor make beautiful music. THANKS
for posting.....

[furtwaengler]

Ah thanks, emill. I tell you a thing about preaching the gospel I've been told: "Preach to the 10 year old and hope the PHD understands."

I think it may not be too different in music. Also, I sometimes get more out of comments from non-musicians and regular people, then I do from those who have been through the education and higher learning. I say this not to demean anybody! Much respect to the doctors among us! But I tell you the truth, I learned more about music from a high school English teacher (and huge collector of broadcasts reels and old concerts, away from the commercial studio - the real stuff!) who cannot play an instrument or read much music, than I have from any other source. This and an old Argentinian physicist who likes to play the violin as a hobby (we've played everything, too). I've come to value their opinions more than anybodies, and I say to you Emill, I greatly value yours as well. Don't worry about what you think you lack; just give us an honest reaction and it will be much gain!