Klarinet Archive - Posting 000707.txt from 1998/02

From: Jacqueline Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Working with singers
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 03:42:30 -0500

On Wed, 18 Feb 1998, Daniel A. Paprocki wrote:

> I'm doing a recital this April with a soprano. This is the first time I'm
> working with a singer. I'm curious if others have had the same experience.
> My observations are:
>
> dim = ritard
> end of phrase = ritard
> rit = ritard 2 measures early than ritard alot
> approaching a rest = ritard
> when in doubt = ritard
>
> This soprano has a fine voice and is a good musician but I've never seen so
> much rubato with a tempo. Maybe I should qualify myself - I had just
> finished a weekend doing Bartok Miraculous Mandarin so my internal
> metronome and rhythm machinery was honed to a fine edge. What have other's
> experiences been with singers? Is this an isolated event? I know every
> soprano out there is going to flame me.
>
> Dan
>
>
> *********************************************************************
> Daniel A. Paprocki
>
> Instructor of Clarinet & Music, Malone College
> Adjunct Professor of Clarinet, Kent State University - Stark Campus
>
> dap@-----.net
> **********************************************************************
>
>
>
>
Yes, Dan, unfortunately, it's true. Singers in general, and soprani, in
particular, have a tendency to drag more than instrumentalists do. I
don't know whether it's because they work so often with pianists who are
used to following their "interpretations". Sometimes the problem is
caused by physical distance, esp. with the Opera Chorus, for example. I
often think they are unaware of the discrepancy, which doesn't help. You
might point this out if you can do so tactfully, but my experience with
singers has been that you will reach a happy medium at best (i.e., you
will end up doing more of the adapting!). I've done a few chamber pieces
with singers (Shepherd on the Rock, Spohr 6 German Songs, etc.) and found
this to be the case every time.

Just remember, they're "emoting"..........

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu