Here's something you might be interested in.
Singing the part of the shepherd in the upcoming performance of Laud to the Nativity is local tenor Nick Munson. Nick has a beautiful and pleasing tenor voice which fits the shepherd’s solo like glove.
Tenors are often said to have extra open spaces for resonance where their brains should be. In other words tenors are shallow and flighty. I asked Nick what he thinks about Laud. His answer was anything but shallow. Brains and resonance? Look out.
“Its main challenge is also its most interesting, motivating asset--it moves through contrasting styles quickly and often. This demands a degree of concentration that prevents the performer from mentally dropping out of the piece, which, let's be honest, is common for a work of this length [25-30 minutes].”
“When I think about what Respighi's done by combining six or seven different styles here, it seems that it should have turned out piecemeal, almost frantic, but it works! He reveals what he wants to communicate in each section without pontificating.”
“Just when you get comfortable with the music it refreshes itself by traveling in an entirely new direction, but in a way that manages to be a delightful invitation rather than a jarring rush that leaves the performer and audience stammering to keep up.”
“I'm glad you asked us about all of this, because it's given me a chance to reflect a little. There's something to be said here about sampling musical styles spanning centuries for a nativity piece.”
“I mean, the story is 2,000 years old and it has been written and performed to death despite its immutable message of ultimate redemption. However, Laud is alive, it's fresh, and being a part of this music reminds me that despite the vast differences between the generations upon generations of people that have heard this story, despite the antagonism and strain between all of us today trying to come to terms with both the losses and the possibilities of globalization and cultural conflict, this message is just as relevant today as it's always been.”
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
Singing the part of the shepherd in the upcoming performance of Laud to the Nativity is local tenor Nick Munson. Nick has a beautiful and pleasing tenor voice which fits the shepherd’s solo like glove.
Tenors are often said to have extra open spaces for resonance where their brains should be. In other words tenors are shallow and flighty. I asked Nick what he thinks about Laud. His answer was anything but shallow. Brains and resonance? Look out.
“Its main challenge is also its most interesting, motivating asset--it moves through contrasting styles quickly and often. This demands a degree of concentration that prevents the performer from mentally dropping out of the piece, which, let's be honest, is common for a work of this length [25-30 minutes].”
“When I think about what Respighi's done by combining six or seven different styles here, it seems that it should have turned out piecemeal, almost frantic, but it works! He reveals what he wants to communicate in each section without pontificating.”
“Just when you get comfortable with the music it refreshes itself by traveling in an entirely new direction, but in a way that manages to be a delightful invitation rather than a jarring rush that leaves the performer and audience stammering to keep up.”
“I'm glad you asked us about all of this, because it's given me a chance to reflect a little. There's something to be said here about sampling musical styles spanning centuries for a nativity piece.”
“I mean, the story is 2,000 years old and it has been written and performed to death despite its immutable message of ultimate redemption. However, Laud is alive, it's fresh, and being a part of this music reminds me that despite the vast differences between the generations upon generations of people that have heard this story, despite the antagonism and strain between all of us today trying to come to terms with both the losses and the possibilities of globalization and cultural conflict, this message is just as relevant today as it's always been.”
Gloria in excelsis Deo.