Monthly Archives: September 2014

Day 353: Songs V

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BrahmsCD47In 1978, British progressive-rock musician Jeff Wayne released an album called Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of the War of the Worlds in which the story – and the songs – are interspersed by narration.

Today’s Brahms CD reminded me of that album because it, too, is a song cycle interspersed by narration.

Granted, the narration on Brahms CD 47 is in German so I can’t understand a word of it. But it’s narration nonetheless.

The Composition:

Romanzen Op. 33 (30 tracks)

The Performers:

Hartmut Volle narrator

Michael Volle baritone

Adrian Baianu piano

According to the Gramophone web site:

Brahm’s Magelone Lieder have, with a few exceptions, never been among his most popular, perhaps because they relate too closely to the somewhat scented romanticism of Tieck’s novella. Performances of the cycle are rare, performances with narrator are still rarer…

War-Of-The-WorldsI Googled Brahms’ Romanzen (“romantic”) composition and I discovered very little about it, other than what I quoted above.

The IMSLP web site indicates that this was written in 1861-1869. Kind of vague. If it’s true, Brahms was 28-36.

Which, incidentally, was the same age as Jeff Wayne was when he created his War of the Worlds album.

Day 352: Songs IV

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BrahmsCD46In order of preference, my favorite vocal ranges are:

Tenor
Soprano
Mezzo-soprano
Baritone
Contralto
Alto

The vocalist on today’s CD is in the mezzo-soprano range.

Which means that I can enjoy this music even if I don’t enjoy this music.

Believe it or not, I just discovered a YouTube video clip titled How to Sing Mezzo Soprano. (Not that I intend to learn it, mind you. I’d need a YouTube clip titled “How to Sing When You Can’t Carry a Tune If Your Life Depended On It.”)

Interesting.


The Compositions:

Too many to name. There are 26 tracks on today’s CD, totaling over one hour of music.

The Performers:

Stephanie Iranyi mezzo-soprano

Helmut Deutsch piano

Compared to the previous couple of CDs, this is a breath of fresh air.

But it’s still only a breath.

True fresh air would be Steve Perry, formerly of Journey. That’s a tenor I can enjoy.

Or dramatic soprano Floor Jansen of Nightwish.

I could listen to those people all day long.

These Brahms Songs CDs…

Not so much.

Day 351: Songs III

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BrahmsCD45What shall we call this?

Cousin of Songs?

Niece of Songs?

Second Son By a Second Marriage of Songs?

Whatever.

This is Songs III, but with another change – a male vocalist instead of the female vocalist in the last CD.

The baritone on today’s CD sounds much like the tenor on Songs I. His range may go a little lower. But his upper register is every bit as high as the tenor’s.

The Compositions:

Too many to name. There are 19 tracks on today’s CD.

The Performers:

Michael Volle baritone

Karl-Peter Kammerlander piano

The singer is accomplished. But the compositions are lackluster.

The pianist is very good. I enjoy the tone of the piano and how it was recorded.

But this is another CD that I really didn’t need to hear.

Day 350: Songs II

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BrahmsCD44Let’s call today’s CD Son of Songs.

Because it’s more of what I heard last time, on Songs I.

Only this time it’s a female vocalist instead of a male vocalist.

Unfortunately, the female vocalist is an alto – my least favorite vocal range of all.

So every single one of these songs is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

The Compositions:

Too many to name. There are 25 tracks on this CD.

The Performers:

Ingeborg Danz alto
Roland Glassl viola
Helmut Deutsch piano

I’m sorry. But I just don’t know why these songs exist.

Day 349: Songs I

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BrahmsCD43Oh, joy.

We switched from “Choral Music” to “Songs.”

What’s the difference?

Oh. I see.

Multiple voices. The former requires a choir, many voices. The latter requires just one voice, perhaps more. But usually one.

I get it.

The Compositions:

14 Songs (too many to name individually)

Zigeunerlieder Op. 103 (8 songs)

The Performers:

Christian Elsner tenor
Burkhard Kehring piano

Christian’s voice is pretty good. Not quite in the range of tenor that I enjoy (he sounds closer to a baritone with tenor leanings; but the hell do I know?). But he’s very good, with a lot of power.

And the piano is gentle and mournful enough – with enough depth of emotion – to be compelling.

Overall, these songs, although somewhat dirge-like, are strangely mesmerizing.

Even in German.

I dunno. This could be another Favorite – which goes against everything in me. Yet…

Day 348: Choral Music VIII

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BrahmsCD42There was an American TV show in the 1960s called Get Smart.

It starred Don Adams as Agent 86 and Barbara Feldon as Agent 99, both of CONTROL. Their arch nemesis was an evil organization called KAOS. It was a very funny, albeit goofy, series with writing provided by such luminaries as Buck Henry and Mel Brooks.

Anyway, the show was riddled with catch phrases that became part of American pop culture. One such phrase was “Would you believe…?”

That’s applicable in this case because, “Would you believe there’s an eighth CD of Brahms’ choral music?”

There is.

And I’m listening to it now.

And, for the most part, I’m not impressed.

I’ve heard it all before. Nearly seven times before.

These choral arrangements sound vaguely Gregorian (like a few of the earlier ones) in that they’re sonorous, echo-y, and in a foreign language. (Foreign to me, anyway.) Especially when the male chorus performs in 5 Lieder Op. 41. That sounds Gregorian to my ears. If they were singing in Latin it would be a dead ringer for Gregorian chant music.

I will say this about Brahms choral music: The Chamber Choir of Europe is magnificent. If not for their obvious talent, these choral compositions would bore me to tears. (Or, to use another Get Smart catchphrase, they would have “Missed it by that much.”) As it is, the Chamber Choir of Europe offers listeners spectacular performances, even if some of them sound like they’re from a World War II movie.

The Compositions:

Marienlieder Op. 22

Fest – und Gedenkspruche Op. 109

5 Lieder Op. 41

12 Lieder und Romanzen Op. 44

Three Sacred Choruses Op. 37

The Performers:

Chamber Choir of Europe
Nicol Matt conductor

I really want to like this stuff. (Really.)

But I’m not hearing anything new that I haven’t heard before, either from Brahms or from other Classical composers. The performances are nice, even inspired. But eight CDs in a row of the same kind of music has worn out its welcome.

“Would you believe…?”

Day 347: Choral Music VII

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BrahmsCD41This is starting to feel like I’m caught in an episode of The Twilight Zone, the one where the same events keep repeating.

I had no idea Johannes was such an aficionado of choral music.

I avoided studying a composer like Verdi for that very reason – he was known for his opera.

If I suspected that Brahms would have been so heavy on the singing, I might have reconsidered my choice to study his works.

Maybe.

I’m still learning a great deal and, for the most part, enjoying my listening.

But I prefer the power and majesty of Beethoven’s symphonies, concertos, and sonatas over this type of singing.

Although this type of singing – as represented on today’s CD – sounds a lot like Gregorian chants. It’s sonorous, echo-y, with occasional very high notes from the sopranos piercing the heavens above the drone.

It’s actually quite mesmerizing.

When I listen to Brahms’ choral music, I have to tune out the German language bits and just listen to the sound of it all at once. If I focus on the words, I chuckle. The German language is really funny. So many harsh consonants and excessive syllables for what in English would be simple word. “Pencil,” for example. In German, it becomes something like, “Leipzichfrauscribundleadverkinten.” (Not, really. But I’m making a point, albeit stretching it a bit.)

The Compositions:

2 Motets Op. 29

Geistliches Lied Op. 30

3 Motets Op. 110

Missa Canonica Wo018 posth.

Gesange Op. 17 for female voices, 2 horns & harp

The Performers:

Chamber Choir of Europe
Jens Wollenschlager organ
Martina Schrott harp
Sebastian Schindler horn
Sebastian Schorr horn
Nicol Matt conductor

Some of this CD is quite good. 3 Motets Op. 110, especially Movement I (“Ich aber bin elend”), for example.

And the surprising Gesange Op. 17 for female voices, 2 horns & harp. It’s a remarkable pairing of instruments (Gesange means choruses). The French horn, alone, always gets my attention. But horn and harp? And some truly fine female voices.

Here. Listen for yourself:

As you can hear, this is an unusual pairing of instruments. NOTE: The harpist is playing in typical Brahms fashion – lots of notes – but it comes out sounding like a Classical guitar (think Segovia).

It’s a very, very interesting composition.

I”m sorry. But I have to give this one a Favorite award.

Day 346: Choral Music VI

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BrahmsCD40You’re kidding, right?

Another CD of choral music?

Six in a row?

The compositions:

Zigeunerlieder Op. 103

4 Zigeunerlieder

Deutsche Volkslieder Wo033

13 Canons Op. 113

The performers:

Chamber Choir of Europe
Jurgen Kruse, Friederike Haug piano
Nicol Matt

Okay. Maybe Johannes has warn me down.

Or maybe I’m just tired.

But I like this choral music.

I even like the alto-range female singer in the Deutsche Volkslieder Wo033 compositions.

There’s something mesmerizing about the melodies and the interplay between the tenor and the alto. (Or is she a mezzo-soprano? I can’t tell.)

Anyway, I may have to give this Favorite status.

Truly, I must be losing my mind.

Day 345: Choral Music V

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BrahmsCD39Okay. Enough is enough.

Here it is CD five – count ’em, FIVE! – of choral music. I don’t recall listening to this many CDs in a row of another genre of music from Brahms.

Brahms seems to have written more choral music that any other kind.

Is that possible? Did Brahms have an affinity (bordering on fetish) for choral music?

To my ears, he sounds quite accomplished in that realm.

I just don’t happen to appreciate that realm.

The compositions:

Deutsche Volklieder Wo034

Deutsche Volkslieder Wo035

Ave Maria Op. 12

Psalm 13 “Herr, wie lange”

The performers:

Amadeus-Chor
Chamber Choir of Europe
Jens Wollenschlager organ
Nicol Matt conductor

Day 344: Choral Music IV

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BrahmsCD38I was tempted to write, “Please make it stop.”

But then I continued to listen.

And I noticed the beauty of the voices – especially the sopranos – and I my brain wouldn’t let my fingers type those words.

There’s something captivating about today’s CD of Choral Music, which features six compositions:

3 Gesange Op. 42

7 Lieder Op. 62

Lieder und Romanzen Op. 93a

5 Gesange Op. 104

Quartets Op. 92

from 6 Quartets Op. 112

Here are the performers:

Chamber Choir of Europe
Jurgen Meier piano
Nicol Matt conductor

Although I really can’t envision a time when I’d listen to this again, I don’t feel an aversion to it as I have Brahms’ previous Choral Music. I may have to (grudgingly) give this a Favorite award.

The voices are beautiful.