Handel's Messiah is to me a score that must be played as written. This orchestral and choral work is inspired, and in its original form can be considered "perfect." Here, I use the term "perfect" to mean a piece that is in its original form utterly complete and without need of any change.
Whatever you do, DO NOT listen to Bernstein's recording of Messiah. LOL He takes a great deal of...liberty...with that score. Offensively so.
May 01, 2022, 06:23 PM
konata88
I was watching parts of a Korean amateur singing competition (The Legend, The New Singer). Basically a singing competition but the theme is popular bands/songs from the 80's.
I think I have a better feeling for interpretation (what the judges, who are original celebrity singers, called arrangement?).
There was one singer that I think knocked it out of the park - her version was more dramatic and passionate than the original. I think the judge who originally sang the song (elder judge with white hair and mustache) suggested that - something along the lines that he didn't know the song was that great. I guess his band and this song was very popular back in the day.
One version of the original:
The 'new singer amateur' version (the amateur singer is responsible for the arrangement:
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
May 01, 2022, 08:22 PM
dsiets
quote:
Originally posted by darthfuster: [/FLASH_VIDEO]
I'm just here for the Kashmir. I don't want to interrupt the thread but years ago I posted this version and someone thanked me for it. I'm hoping this applies to the OP because otherwise, then, it doesn't belong here.
May 01, 2022, 10:19 PM
fwbulldog
quote:
Originally posted by konata88:
When they refer to interpretation, what is the musician modulating that's not reflected in the score?
Feel. Groove. Pocket. Those are things you can't put down on paper.
Listen to any computer play a MIDI file vs. a live musician.
My prime example: Phil Rudd. You can put the score for "Back In Black" in front of a 100 drummers and only Phil Rudd has that feel.
It's micro-adjustments in push/pull timing, dynamics, and just God-given talent.
There are a thousand little things that change from player to player. Vibrato, string pressure, pick attach, breath control, etc.
Then you can get into note choice, inversions, chord extensions, arpeggios. And don't forget space. What and when you DON'T play can have a big impact.
I think this is a good video to illustrate the difference between a literal and subjective interpretation of a score:
_________________________ You do NOT have the right to never be offended.
May 01, 2022, 11:49 PM
konata88
This is complicated still for me. I envy you with musical talent as I wish I could appreciate this more. Some of this is obvious. Like the the Thunderstruck variants. Others are more subtle like the Debussy variants- btw, I like the Copeland version the best, followed by Debussy’s version. Lang lang’s version was uncomfortable for me. It didn’t flow smoothly like Copeland’s and had awkward pauses for me. I don’t know if it’s more technically correct but lang lang is my least favorite.
I’ve let much of life pass me by. I haven’t smelt roses. I don’t know the differences in musical interpretation. I have no appreciation for the flavor profiles of bourbon.
But I want to learn to appreciate these things.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
May 02, 2022, 12:14 AM
Sacramento Johnson
Classical music is a treasure trove of amazing music and performances. Two of my favorite intepretations are: 1. Artur Schnabel, pianist, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Frederick Stock conducting Beethoven's Piano Concerto #5, Op. 73 "Emperor" from 1942. I had already heard many fine painists/orchestras play this piece, but when I heard his performance of especially the second movement, it was like I had never heard it before; I truely felt like this is what twinkling starlight must "sound" like! 2. Claudio Arrau, pianist, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam/ Christoph Von Dohnanyi conducting Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 from 1963. Again, heard others playing it, but Arrau had such a feeling for the flow, his performance eclipsed all I'd heard before.
May 02, 2022, 08:44 AM
Captain Morgan
Emerson Lake And Palmer covered a lot of classical music. They did much more but these two are awesome.
Mars The Bringer of War
Romeo and Juliet
Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows. Benjamin Franklin
May 02, 2022, 12:49 PM
SIGnified
"Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty." ~Robert A. Heinlein
May 15, 2024, 07:48 PM
kkina
I just happened on this Reddit discussion and remembered this thread from a couple years back. I thought it brought out a lot of the points that vary between different interpretations of the same piece of music. It's not actual changes to the score itself, but a plethora of more subtle things.
Handel's Messiah is to me a score that must be played as written. This orchestral and choral work is inspired, and in its original form can be considered "perfect." Here, I use the term "perfect" to mean a piece that is in its original form utterly complete and without need of any change.
Whatever you do, DO NOT listen to Bernstein's recording of Messiah. LOL He takes a great deal of...liberty...with that score. Offensively so.
I've had the Messiah burned into my being, and I'm glad there is someone else that feels the same way about Bernstein.
And, remember if you get lost we'll all meet at the fermata.
_________________________ OH, Bonnie McMurray!
May 16, 2024, 02:37 PM
konata88
quote:
Originally posted by kkina: I just happened on this Reddit discussion and remembered this thread from a couple years back. I thought it brought out a lot of the points that vary between different interpretations of the same piece of music. It's not actual changes to the score itself, but a plethora of more subtle things.
"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy "A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book