Meaning of Vocalist?

[french frank]

Where we probably differ most is that I regard Nina Simone as just as good as Kathleen Ferrier in their chosen genres, and I do not consider contraltos, say, as superior or inferior to vocalists per se. It's the performance that counts.

I did actually make the point that I was not differentiating on the grounds that one voice was 'superior' when I said "I stress 'particular' so that it should not be thought I mean that one style has 'quality' and the other has not." From 'qualis' of what sort or kind, indicating characteristics, not whether one is better than the other.

[Padraig]

I did actually make the point that I was not differentiating on the grounds that one voice was 'superior' when I said "I stress 'particular' so that it should not be thought I mean that one style has 'quality' and the other has not."

That makes it unanimous, ff.

I wonder if jean is quite satisfied with the various sfforts to address her question.

[ahinton]

I think that it's a well known 19th century virtuoso pianist singing his own songs (and fine - though too few and far between - most of them are, too)...

[Padraig]

I think that it's a well known 19th century virtuoso pianist singing his own songs (and fine - though too few and far between - most of them are, too)...

Excuse my obvious slow wittedness, a h, but, for a start, will you tell me what 'it' is?
I may have a few more questions later.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Excuse my obvious slow wittedness, a h, but, for a start, will you tell me what 'it' is?

Voca - Liszt.

(He's quite right: the songs are amongst Liszt's finest creations.)

[Serial_Apologist]

Excuse my obvious slow wittedness, a h, but, for a start, will you tell me what 'it' is?
I may have a few more questions later.

A vocaliszt would be my guess.

[french frank]

You and I were unanimous again on that one, Padraig!

[Padraig]

You and I were unanimous again on that one, Padraig!

I think I was more unanimous than you, ff.

There you are, jean, your question clearly and concisely answered.

Next question please. Mr ah Memory is ready to astound you!

[verismissimo]

... and should Nina Simone ever have wanted to train for the opera I reckon her teacher would have tended to concentrate on her lower register...

Just to be clear... she trained at the Juilliard School in New York as a pianist.

[french frank]

This Wiki article on the 'Fach' is interesting in suggesting descriptions of the qualities of the various operatic voices. Is the classification just as much to do with the 'sweet spot' of the voice as the actual range, and the qualities it has? A low, husky, gravelly voice is not what I would associate with a contralto, for example. Heavy, rich, resonant, supple, sweet, light, lyrical, pure. And seven different types of soprano to consider.

Perhaps 'vocalist' is just 'none of the above'?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPPtrqvHGEg