Classical Music is for Ponces #2

WARNING: The following is of interest to classical music fans only, and maybe not even them.

Unfortunately I couldn’t sing in the amateur concert this month as my throat was wrecked by ‘flu and then by singing the high frigging As in Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus – what bastard gives tenors so many high As?? At least Beethoven had the excuse that he was deaf and couldn't hear the result. And it’s a bit strident, isn’t it? At least in Romania one doesn’t have to stand up. There may be another chance of a concert in the summer; I’ll have added more Schubert to my repertoire by then and right now, what with the garden bursting into life, I’m in a springtime mood!... though of course this won’t be very topical then, will it. First up it's Frühlingsglaube (“Faith In Spring”): an unusually “swoopy” rendition, but I like it, by Norwegian valkyriist Kirsten Flagstad and my homey Gerald Moore; and at the risk of sounding Fotherington-Thomas here* is the text. This year’s will it/won’t it ever get warm has certainly tested our faith in spring to the max, hasn't it. Next we have Im Fruhling ("In Spring") with two of the absolute all-time masters: Messrs. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Sviatoslav Richter:



* The gentle winds are awakened,
They murmur and waft day and night,
They create in every corner.
Oh fresh scent, oh new sound!
Now, poor dear heart, fear not!
Now everything, everything must change.
The world becomes more beautiful with each day,
One does not know what may yet happen,
The blooming doesn't want to end.
The farthest, deepest valley blooms:
Now, poor dear, forget the pain!
Now everything, everything must change.

My Life in Song Titles...

Don’t worry, there’s some totally hilarious posts coming soon, but I’m in a reflective mood right now. Scarlet Blue kindly tagged me to do this. One has to choose an “artist”, and then answer questions about one’s interesting life using only the titles of his/her songs. I thought back to my formative years and wondered which of the great performers might help me – The Jam had perhaps the best lyrics, The Clash had more power, and The Sex Pistols somehow typified the zeitgeist. But no, I’ve simply chosen the best songwriter who ever lived (no, I don’t mean Max Splodge of Splodgenessabounds):

1. Choose a band/artist: Franz Schubert
2. Answer ONLY using titles of their songs.
3. Are you male or female: Was Ist Silvia? (Who Is “Sylvia”??)
4. What do you do for a living?: Der Lieirmann (Hurdy-Gurdy Man)
5. Describe yourself: Ganymed (Ganymede)
6. How do some people feel about you: Des Mädchens Klage (The Maiden’s Complaint)
7. How do you feel about yourself: Der Musensohn (The Son of the Muses)
8. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: Die Forelle (The Trout)
9. Describe current boyfriend/girlfriend: Lachen Und Weiner.(Laughter and Tears)
10. Describe where you want to be: Am Meer (By the Sea)
11. Describe how you live: Täuschung (Illusion)
12. Describe how you love: Der Wanderer (The Wanderer)
13. What would you have if you had just one wish: ‘Av a Maria
14. Share a few words of Wisdom: Liebe Schwärmt auf allen Wegen (Love Wanders on Every Road)
15. Now say goodbye: Gute Nacht (Goodnight)

Ah yes, Viennese wunderkind and all-round gent Mr Franz Schubert. (A man whose visage, with its rather cherubic looks and unruly hair, always reminds me of Harris off of Porridge). So it’s Gute Nacht from me and it’s Gute Nacht from him. And, fittingly, this is the song that I'm (probably) going to sing in a small amateur concert soon: