Mastodawn

Coming up: My new book! 5-in-one! #circus #variety #revue #operetta #musical Everything what nobody wanted to see or put it in writing about #showbusiness in cultural bubbles! Pre-order for pre-fans!

https://www.cambridge.org/core/elements/abs/revue-in-twentiethcentury-budapest/E6673114EB41ACE36B92A10049B20F93

The Revue in Twentieth-Century Budapest

Cambridge Core - Twentieth-Century and Contemporary Music - The Revue in Twentieth-Century Budapest

Cambridge Core

Georgiana Brummell Mar 9

I'm posting this here as well as on my usual blob.cat instance, since that one doesn't federate as widely, so I apologise to those who may see it twice.
On 6 March, 1951, the world lost a genius and a truly amazing man. Known mostly for the lovely, romantic music in his operettas such as Glamorous Night, The Dancing Years, Perchance to Dream, and King's Rhapsody, among others, he also wrote one of the most famous songs of World War I (Keep the Home Fires Burning), at least one review (Theodore and Co.), and starred in several silent films and talkies. A man of many talents, Ivor Novello worked with a range of wonderful singers, as well as the librettist, Christopher Hassall, who brought his music to life. Below, I have provided some links for you to enjoy. As a side note, for those looking for gay role models, you should definitely research him. While it was illegal to be openly homosexual during his lifetime, he had a relationship that lasted for thirty-five years!

This is the Wikipedia entry for Ivor Novello.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Nov…

Since I mentioned him, and since he was such an integral part of Novello's work, here is the entry for Christopher Hassall. It's worth noting that there are several Youtube videos of him reading both his own poetry and the works of others.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christop…

Incredibly, a mere two days after Novelllo's death, those who knew him best created an extraordinary tribute to him. It contains live performances, not only of songs, but of a few scenes from his earlier works and famous operettas, providing an invaluable window into the excellent vocal and acting styles of the time.

IVOR NOVELLO-Man of the Theatre- 8th March 1951

youtube.com/watch?v=etB7t_ETqS…

This is a play in which Novello himself starred. While he didn't normally speak this way (publically, at least) he was from Wales, so this is probably the accent he heard while growing up. This was later turnd into the full-length work entitled Valley of song, and was completed by Christopher Hassall upon Novello's death.

Choir Practice, by Cliff Gordon (BBC, 1946)

youtube.com/watch?v=UsM8_TW0pt…

Here he is narrating a few scenes from King's Rhapsody. This is extremely interesting, because no one else is acting. I'm not quite sure what this was meant to be. That is, a demonstration, a trailer, just the author's thoughts? Regardless, it's a wonderful treat for the ears.

Muranian Rhapsody part 1

youtube.com/watch?v=JIbrYatXPd…

Muranian Rhapsody part 2

youtube.com/watch?v=ciVi8L-KPe…

Finally, here is a wonderful series of highlights from King's Rhapsody, by the original cast!

youtube.com/watch?v=wOu-nuoi3f…

There are several other videos of Novello's work on Youtube, including full films (both silent and talking), individual songs, and a full tribute concert from 1979. But this should serve as a decent introduction.

#composer #gay #operetta #IvorNovello #music #radio #theater #theatre #tribute

Ivor Novello - Wikipedia

Georgiana Brummell Mar 9

On 6 March, 1951, the world lost a genius and a truly amazing man. Known mostly for the lovely, romantic music in his operettas such as Glamorous Night, The Dancing Years, Perchance to Dream, and King's Rhapsody, among others, he also wrote one of the most famous songs of World War I (Keep the Home Fires Burning), at least one review (Theodore and Co.), and starred in several silent films and talkies. A man of many talents, Ivor Novello worked with a range of wonderful singers, as well as the librettist, Christopher Hassall, who brought his music to life. Below, I have provided some links for you to enjoy. As a side note, for those looking for gay role models, you should definitely research him. While it was illegal to be openly homosexual during his lifetime, he had a relationship that lasted for thirty-five years!

This is the Wikipedia entry for Ivor Novello.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Novello

Since I mentioned him, and since he was such an integral part of Novello's work, here is the entry for Christopher Hassall. It's worth noting that there are several Youtube videos of him reading both his own poetry and the works of others.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hassall

Incredibly, a mere two days after Novelllo's death, those who knew him best created an extraordinary tribute to him. It contains live performances, not only of songs, but of a few scenes from his earlier works and famous operettas, providing an invaluable window into the excellent vocal and acting styles of the time.

IVOR NOVELLO-Man of the Theatre- 8th March 1951

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etB7t_ETqSI

This is a play in which Novello himself starred. While he didn't normally speak this way (publically, at least) he was from Wales, so this is probably the accent he heard while growing up. This was later turnd into the full-length work entitled Valley of song, and was completed by Christopher Hassall upon Novello's death.

Choir Practice, by Cliff Gordon (BBC, 1946)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsM8_TW0pto

Here he is narrating a few scenes from King's Rhapsody. This is extremely interesting, because no one else is acting. I'm not quite sure what this was meant to be. That is, a demonstration, a trailer, just the author's thoughts? Regardless, it's a wonderful treat for the ears.

Muranian Rhapsody part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIbrYatXPdk

Muranian Rhapsody part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciVi8L-KPe4

Finally, here is a wonderful series of highlights from King's Rhapsody, by the original cast!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOu-nuoi3fE

There are several other videos of Novello's work on Youtube, including full films (both silent and talking), individual songs, and a full tribute concert from 1979. But this should serve as a decent introduction.

#composer #gay #operetta #IvorNovello #music #radio #theater #theatre #tribute

Ivor Novello - Wikipedia

LuhrsandAssociates Feb 26

👩‍🎤The Verismo Singers Presents Songs to Delight You!

🎶 Enjoy ensemble and solo pieces from operas, operettas, and Broadway musicals.

🗓️ Monday, March 3 | 🕑 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

📍 Sunrise of Cresskill, 3 Tenakill Park E, Cresskill, New Jersey USA

🎹 Accompanied by pianist Michael Pilafian

All are welcome! Don’t miss this musical treat!

#concert #free #singers #opera #operetta #JerseyArts #NewJersey

Georgiana Brummell Feb 23

For me, the undisputed champions of operetta are Ivor Novello and Franz Lehar. I could listen to original cast recordings of Novello for hours, and have spent an unimaginable amount of time gathering everything from and by him that I could find, then buying the rest. In operetta singing, I like Trefor Jones, Olive Gilbert (I love contraltos and am one), Richard Tauber, Mary Ellis, and Vanessa Lee. As for opera singers, my favourites are Tito Schipa, Leopold Simoneau, Richard Tauber (yes, he makes two appearances here), Louis Graveure, John McCormac (extraordinarily similar to Trefor Jones), , and to a lesser extent, Beniamino Gigli, and Enrico Caruso. I am starting to appreciate the last more as I listen to him, but more on a scholarly level, as his voice is fascinating to study. Yes, I very much prefer tenors. I seriously can't get enough of Tito Schipa, though, and went crazy the other night, downloading things from him! I simply adore his voice. He has chest voice, but he's not obnoxious about it, as many are today. I love elegance over power, and he displays this perfectly. His clarity is lovely and his vibrato is perfect. At no point do I tire or get a headache when listening to him. Even Simoneau, who is sweeter, lacks his qualities. Tauber is wonderful for power with control. His voice is heavier but still enjoyable, especially because he sings both operetta and opera. Any other recommendations of singers would be appreciated, but unless they truly follow the old way of singing, please keep them from prior to the 1950's.

#operetta #opera #music #singing #tenors #voices

Georgiana Brummell Feb 21

I think some of you may find this interesting. I myself am beginning to study all of this, as I am fascinated by the singing methods and knowledge of the time. It is a bit difficult doing it being blind and unable to read music, but fortunately, there are ways around that. My perfect pitch and good memory for lyrics also helps. Still, if anyone would like to work with me on this i.e. study together or even give some advice, I would appreciate it.

Below, you will find various links related to theory, harmony and counterpoint, and a comparison of older and modern methods of teaching and singing. While this relates to choirs and opera, it also relates to the theatre, particularly operettas and such.

Studying Music: Part I

https://dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205086.html

My one criterion was that the methods and books used had to be from the time of Ivor Novello, preferably from his youth (born 1893). If I were to start in the early nineteenth century, which is where most of my preferred non-musical educational material is from, I would miss extremely important developments in classical music. Starting at the birth of his mother, Clara Novello Davies, in 1861, would be fine. However, since her own book, which I am using as my main text and guide, was written in 1928, I went with that of her son. In the following sections, you will find the books I am using. One thing I have not included, though it was a huge influence in Ivor's own writing style, was theatrical music, such as that found in operettas and Edwardian musical comedies. That is such a large topic for discussion that I feel it deserves its own separate post, as does Ivor's music, since it's an interesting blend of all of the above. But this is well outside the scope of traditional musical study.

In the next entry (the below link), we will delve into vocal training and why the singers of Novello's time sound so wonderful.

Studying Music: Part II

https://dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205505.html

Finally, since I mentioned the exercises, here they are, for anyone who wants to try them. Note that these are the Preliminaries and Breathlock Physicals, not the vocal exercises. But I have provided the link to her book as well, for those who may wish to go further.

Clara's Exercises
https://dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205596.html

#books #choir #ClaraNovelloDavies #counterpoint #exercises #harmony #history #IvorNovello #music #musictheory #opera #operetta #singing #studying #vocaltraining #voicetraining #theater #theatre

Captcha Check

Georgiana Brummell Feb 8

Yesterday, I had a long conversation with Perplexity, as usual. We were discussing vocal ranges, opera, and operetta. Anyway, I found a video that was perfect for me to test my range. Keep in mind that I am not accustomed to these notes as numbers, as this became popular after my time of study. But to make things easier, I will use them to explain my results.

youtube.com/watch?v=feuJ7sW2g7…

Apparently, My comfortable range is F3 to C5, with an extended range of D3 to F5, with the last two top notes feeling thin. I can also hit C3, but only quietly.

I then asked to hear various contraltos. I found a few, but almost all sang high, despite obviously being able to sing lower. So I then asked about songs sung by Tito Schipa, since our ranges overlap. I know he couldn't go as high as I (sources say he couldn't hit a high C), but I have never heard him hit a low note that I can't. Perplexity recommended the following.

"A te, o cara" from Bellini's "I Puritani"

Arias from Donizetti's "L'elisir d'amore", particularly Nemorino's parts.

Selections from Massenet's "Werther".

Arias from Donizetti's "Don Pasquale", especially Ernesto's recitatives.

Then, I began to wonder if there are any songs within operetta that would match me well. I received these in reply.

"Vilja-Lied" from Franz Lehár's "The Merry Widow"

"Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" from Sigmund Romberg's "The New Moon" (I need to find a tenor version, aas it was originally written for a baritone.)

"Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life" from Victor Herbert's "Naughty Marietta"

"I'm Falling in Love with Someone" also from "Naughty Marietta"

"Serenade" from Romberg's "The Student Prince"

"Wanting You" from Romberg's "The New Moon"

"Love, Come Back to Me" also from "The New Moon"

Since three of these are from the same work, and since I actually have The New Moon, both as a full modern (sadly) recording and some original songs, I am going to watch that some time soon. It will be good to take a break from opera and go back to operetta. I just have to be careful because finding such music, or I should say, full English productions with dialogue, is incredibly difficult!

At any rate, I then asked which of these songs would be good for a beginner, and Perplexity chose "Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life", "I'm Falling in Love with Someone", "Vilja-Lied", and "Serenade".

Even though I have perfect pitch and photographic musical memory (once I know a song), it will take a long time before I can sing any of these truly correctly. But what do you think about the suggestions in general? Remember, I am not studying to actually perform on stage. This is simply for the love of singing. Personally, after hearing them, I think, other than the operettas, a good starting point might be Schipa's Neapolitan songs. They seem much easier.

But realistically, before I do any of that at all, I need to work on my exercises from Madam Clara! To that end, I have asked my friend to record the first group, on pages 140 to 145. Once I learn these, I will continue to the next set and so on.

archive.org/details/youcansing…

For those who are wondering why I don't learn from Schipa himself (he taught singing and there are exercises from him online), he has an entirely different approach. The exercises (particularly the Preliminaries and Breath-Lock Physicals) in You Can Sing are good for my health and work very well for me.

#ClaraNovelloDavies #contralto #opera #operetta #TitoSchipa #VocalExercises

Contralto Vocal Range Made SUPER Easy For Beginners | 30 Day Singer

YouTube

Georgiana Brummell Feb 6

The Classical Music group put this one in my head today by mentioning the Merry Widow. I refuse to take responsibility for the humming, singing, and smiling! Then again, Lehar did write Land of Smiles as well. Here, then, is the Merry Widow Waltz.

First, we have an instrumental version from 1907, very close to when the original operetta was written.

youtube.com/watch?v=Uig1bseIjS…

Now, from Richard Tauber, with words in the original German. Lehar and Tauber worked so closely that it was like Novello and Hassall, only instead of writing the lyrics, Tauber sang them, and very beautifully, I might add. There are many other videos of him, including several with Lehar himself at the piano!

youtube.com/watch?v=-s4Fd3i1It…

#FranzLehar #MerryWidow #operetta #RichardTauber

"Merry Widow Waltz" Victor Orchestra on Victor 16577 (1907) music by Franz Lehár

YouTube

Georgiana Brummell Jan 30

Usually, when I listen to operas, or far more often, operettas, I prefer recordings from the 1950's and earlier. This is because I prefer the older singing styles and techniques. The modern ones tend to give me a headache and don't sound right in any case. But if I find a later recording of an older singer, or an extraordinarily rare modern recording of a singer who follows the old style (some do exist), I will listen to it. The Knowle Operatic Society (under that name, as they changed later and now do a lot of modern rubbish), is an exception to that rule. They can't exactly compare to the old singers, but they definitely respect the plays they perform and do their best. They even did King's Rhapsody, for which I am eternally grateful. As any fan of Ivor Novello knows, finding his plays with full dialogue is almost impossible. Anyway, they also did this one, Merrie England, by Edward German. I haven't seen this yet, but this man is supposed to be so similar to Gilbert and Sullivan that Arthur Sullivan himself said he should be his successor, and indeed, after Sullivan's death, German finished his Emerald Aisle, which I also must see.

youtube.com/watch?v=ac7Cy8E_o0…

So now, I will watch this one. Please, if anyone knows where I can find full recordings (or old recordings of songs) from English or Viennese (translated into English if full) operettas let me know. I am always seeking more. And if you are a singer of the old style, thank you so much for sharing your lovely work with the world!

Here we go!

Merrie England-Knowle Operatic Society-1981

youtube.com/watch?v=sly5elfzDH…

There are many good recordings of songs from about 1918 through the 1950's on Youtube. But just for sheer enjoyment, here are the disks with Edward German as conductor!

Merrie England (Edward German), 11 Shellac Record Version from 1918 4

youtube.com/watch?v=JbHzbvBxt_…

And here is one that I simply had to include, because I love this man's voice. I must find more by him. I didn't know of him before now. I adore light tenors!

John Harrison (Edward German conducts) - The English rose (merry england) (hmv d27) (02798) (1918)

youtube.com/watch?v=nffI72wYnm…

#EdwardGerman #GilbertAndSullivan #operetta #operettas #KnowleOperaticSociety #MerrieEngland #theater #theatre