Let's Talk Geese
“Geese are noisy and most persistent.
And, in forcing their voices,
Geese are most insistent with spreading the latest in barnyard talk,
And they do it, endlessly, with a tiresome squawk!
Creating a turbulent atmosphere there,
Geese fuss around with fracas and flare.
Scurrying turbulently, the whole family in toe,
Geese are always putting on a commotion show,
And, all the while, just voicing their opinions,
As to "who'a" should do "what'a" and in "which'a" dominion?
It is surely none of their business really,
As the farmer is master in decision dealings,
But it does add spice to the quiet barnyard life,
As no other animal offers such consistent strife,
So geese are the busy bodies in the crowd
And they do make themselves heard, hefty and loud." Jane Marsh
Strauss' "Four Last Songs"
To my way of thinking, the famed Strauss "Four Last Songs" are beautiful in any order, but, what with their order always programmed after an order created by publisher Boosey & Hawkes, and-contrary to popular belief-not an order dictated by Strauss, I find more interest and vocal variety can be gathered if one sings them out of the standard order. A little innovation is welcomed by listeners, providing, naturally, one can sing them naturally!
"Autumn "
“Autumn is also known as fall,
Why, nobody really knows at all,
Except Autumn does get colder,
And the leaves do get older,
And they do fall to the ground,
Making room for a Round
Of leaves which do please,
While they are still on the trees,
In such a colored array,
Actually seen best by Day
With the Sun leaning on them
And the Wind waving to them,
Before they do fall,
When it is fall,
Also known to us all,
As Autumn." Jane Marsh
Advent Dawning
The beauty of the Advent Dawning now begins. A season filled with the blessings of treasures and the treasures of blessings. The songs of “Maria” are soon to be sung, like soft bonding blankets throughout the Lands.
Thanksgiving Essence
"A day of great thanks for long held tradition,
No Indian pranks, just harvested submissions,
And food from so many, there is plenty of plenty,
No lacking in any for so, so, so many,
So when there's good chance and in the right stance,
One quietly stays and under breath prays,
For all being together and staying in tether,
For singing glory songs prideful harvested throngs." Jane Marsh
Recent Focus on Franz Schubert
I hadn't sung Schubert in a while, but, in again "warming up" some of Schubert's greatest songs for recital, I found myself saying out loud that, "Schubert's songs were shaping forces of their Romantic Era, not just reflections of it."
Schubert had the self-esteem to respond to a variety of poets' works, which interested him, often engaging personal friends as well as famed poets for his songs.
Generally, no matter what poet or thematic content-though there are certainly exceptions to this-, Schubert didn't write well for the female voice, particularly voices of size. He wrote for men, so, in order to find the necessary 'Schubertian tone', I've always spent time focusing on "scaling down", to create the appropriate color. It hasn't been worth it to me, as other composers, though demanding, didn't require such a straight jacket. Recently, though, I've exercised the same process and it's been a journey worth all effort.
Excitement
A big excess of emotional excitement can harm rather than help performance, simply because the excess is inappropriate to the demands of the situation. A situation may not warrant so much emotional excitement. It cannot be creatively used and jams performance, resulting, likely, in the jitters.
Donizetti's "La Fille du Régiment"
At the premiere, Gaetano Donizetti's opera "La Fille du Régiment" (Daughter of the Regiment) was such a success with the French that it was, for many years, performed every Bastille Day in France. This was a huge honor for an Italian born composer.
Donizetti succeeded in winning the French with this opera-his first Opéra Comique-, which was his main objective with "La Fille du Régiment." He was willing to bend the French Opéra Comique rules of style, slightly, in order to appeal to his French public. Needless-to-say, he accomplished his goal. It pays to take risk if you believe in an idea!
Composer Egon Wellesz Reflects on Pietro Cavalli
Giving the voice individuality was something not yet touched upon up to Monteverdi's time. Pietro Cavalli, a student of Monteverdi, first wrote words in a dramatic style and gave the vocal line an independent life of its own, creating vocal personality. This was at the end of the 1600's and completely new to musical writing, marking the real beginning of "bel canto." This is not to be confused with the "Bel Canto Era" (1810 to 1830), involving a style and a vocal technique in addition, but it indicates that attention to the voice as an instrument started in the Baroque Era.
Egon Wellesz, composer of the Second Vienna School, "atonality" and later "twelve tone writing" (1903-1925), who studied Byzantine and Baroque elements, reflected on Cavalli saying:
"Cavalli, who first wrote independent vocal line, is to Monteverdi as Strauss to Wagner...Monteverdi had the brilliance, but Cavalli the genius!"
"The Life of Maria" - Rilke, Hindemith, Marsh
My intent with my translation of Rainer Maria Rilke's "Das Marienleben" (The Life of Maria), for the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York, has been immediate text comprehension.
"Das Marienleben" is one of the most difficult and most intoxicating poetic works. One can discuss the meanings of Rilke's poetry indefinitely, which is part of his charmed genius, but when the massive complexities of Paul Hindemith's composing are added to this, it can be overwhelming to listeners, particularly at first hearing.
My objective has been to alleviate the obscure use of the German language and open it to immediate understanding, while still staying very close to Rilke's text intent. A public needs to "get" the words immediately, so Hindemith's powerful musical concept can also be enjoyed.
Bel Canto
Let's talk about "Bel Canto."
Aside from the "Bel Canto Era" and the "Bel Canto Style" of opera, there is also a "Bel Canto Method" of singing, which can be used even in Verismo, Wagnerian, Verdian, and Modern styles.
Rossini's Masterpiece, "Il barbiere di Siviglia"
In Rossini's day, it was considered a matter of pride just how fast one could turn out a masterpiece. It is said that Rossini wrote Il barbiere di Siviglia
in 20 days. Rossini claimed 11 days.
Years later when Donizetti was asked, he replied, "I believe he wrote it in 20 days. We all know how lazy he was!"
Give & Get
We get what we give. Like always attracts like. An inevitable universal law.
We do not escape the results of our actions - good and less good.
What is necessary to realize here, is that reciprocation does not always come from the source from where the good or bad took place.
Language Adoration
I simply adore languages. All those words! It's like having your choice of anything
and everything in the best bakery, all at once!
Anthology en Route
In creating "singing translations" and Russian transliterations for my upcoming international anthology, I wrote a draft of encouragement to anyone using the anthology, that for phonetic languages-where you write as you speak, like Russian, Italian, German, as examples-, once the phonetics and/or alphabets have been learned and digested, spelling problems should be practically non existent. A reason to feel rejoice, because then it all becomes fun. Like learning lines for a play!
Revelations
One cannot expect love if one is not able to give it. Turn your gaze inward,
correct yourself and your world will change.
Seeds of Thought
Your mind is your garden. Seeds of thought will blossom and bear fruit. Change your mind of today and build your world of tomorrow.
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