Revisiting Old Friends

Today I listened for the umpteenth time to Sinatra’s ‘September of My Years’ album and Schumann’s ‘Dichterliebe’ (this time Mathias Goerne’s recording. He sounds marvelous, but the accompanying leaves plenty to be desired).

First the Sinatra. There’s something about this album that has always appealed to me. Maybe it’s Frank’s world-weariness or the way Gordon Jenkins channels Mahler in the slightly syrupy arrangements. The album has a totally different meaning for a young man listening to it than it might for someone around Frank’s age when he recorded it (50). Still, there is a continuity and flow to the songs which gradually builds to the superb rendering of Weill’s ‘September Song’. Sinatra was great at the concept album and he put out a number of them in the late 50's and 60's. The technique, carefully thought out interpretation and impeccable song selection are on display in such gems as “In the wee small hours”, “Only the Lonely”, and “Songs for Swingin’ Lovers”. Good stuff.

I realized that I’ve been living with ‘Dichterliebe’ for over ten years now. I can still remember the sort of epiphany I experienced at first hearing Fischer-Dieskau and Brendel’s recording at 15 (Place giant “L” on your forehead at this point.). Up to then it had been a steady diet of Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns and Roses (I think I was ready for something different though). I was immediately drawn to the communicative power of lieder: Just a guy or girl with a piano singing about all of that painful stuff that makes up life. That’s why I still love art song dearly, it can reach people in such a potent and intimate way. I can honestly say that this experience more than most anything made me follow this crazy path of singing. Does that mean Fischer-Dieskau should be responsible for my student loans?

I should also note that the York Early Music Festival is going on right now. I saw a great recital of Dowland lute songs with Mark Padmore and Elizabeth Kenny. It had all of those qualities I found in that first ‘Dichterliebe’ moment. Padmore’s voice was smooth and free and every word came across clearly. He and Kenny were spontaneous and original and each song had a flexibility dictated by the text. If the bank allows it, I hope to see a few more concerts before it’s all over on Saturday.

You thought I was kidding about Fischer-Dieskau and my loans...