Musical questions and answers thread

[EdgeleyRob]

Why isn't Alkan's piano music held in the same high regard as that of Chopin or Liszt ?

[verismissimo]

Ok then ....

How well did Janacek and Mahler know each other ?

I asked that one a year or so ago, Alison. No response. Intriguing though.

[verismissimo]

Why isn't Alkan's piano music held in the same high regard as that of Chopin or Liszt ?

Because it isn't as good? (Now I'll be in trouble with Richard Barrett.)

[Petrushka]

Ok then ....

How well did Janacek and Mahler know each other ?

Volume 3 of Henry-Louis de la Grange's huge Mahler biography tells (page 56) of an invitation to Brno and a letter from Janacek to Mahler inviting his presence at the premiere of Jenufa in 1904. Mahler replied with a polite refusal. This is the only mention of Janacek in de Grange's books and can only conclude from this that they never met and that this correspondence was the only contact between them.

[makropulos]

Volume 3 of Henry-Louis de la Grange's huge Mahler biography tells (page 56) of an invitation to Brno and a letter from Janacek to Mahler inviting his presence at the premiere of Jenufa in 1904. Mahler replied with a polite refusal. This is the only mention of Janacek in de Grange's books and can only conclude from this that they never met and that this correspondence was the only contact between them.

That's just about it - sadly. John Tyrrell has a bit more about this exchange of letters in Vol. 1 of his Janacek biography. Both Janacek and Baron Prazak (head of the Board of the Brno Theatre) wrote to Mahler in 1904. He sent courteous replies to both explaining that he was busy in Vienna and could not get away. But in that reply he asked Janacek to send a copy of the vocal score of Jenufa 'as I would certainly be interested in getting to know your work'.

[french frank]

Which piece of music has the highest note written for the voice?

[EdgeleyRob]

Because it isn't as good? (Now I'll be in trouble with Richard Barrett.)

Why ?

[Petrushka]

Which piece of music has the highest note written for the voice?

Some interesting information on vocal range in this article from Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_range

[teamsaint]

Which piece of music has the highest note written for the voice?

Not sure what note, prolly about top E, but I think you will find it is this.

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

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Some interesting information on vocal range in this article from Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_range

Indeed - but it omits to mention Schönberg's Herzegewächse, which also reaches the same top F as the Queen of the Night's, but holds it for longer and is marked pp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz98sU_rPK8

[makropulos]

Which piece of music has the highest note written for the voice?

Nice question. The highest one I've ever come across is Mozart's concert aria Popoli di Tessaglio which goes up (twice!) to a high G - a tone higher than the Queen of the Night. Can anybody go higher still?

[mercia]

for a tenor would it be Ah mes amis from La fille du regiment ?

at the end of this video Natalie Dessay goes to a G# though it doesn't say what the work is (not a very pleasant sound IMHO)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyO2eRlMbyI

[ardcarp]

for a tenor would it be Ah mes amis from La fille du regiment ?

Tell us what it is , mercia, 'cos I don't know the piece. It was always Rossini's Stabat Mater that freaked me with its top D flat. As I didn't have a top D flat, I had to fake it with falsetto. Cruelty to tenors, I reckon.

[mercia]

Tell us what it is , mercia, 'cos I don't know the piece.

'only' a top C but famous I guess for there being several in quick succession

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2-4CGOvMM4

[Richard Tarleton]

A matter of opinion rather than fact (this is possibly more a BAL question), but I'd like to know what our Forum experts think:

Yesterday at home with Sean Rafferty, Mitsuko Uchida played (not sure if live or recording) the first movement repeat of Schubert D960, beginning with those bars that you only play if you're playing the repeat. I got to know this piece via Brendel and so those bars always come as a shock....When such committed Schubertians as Uchida and Schiff on the one hand, and Brendel on the other, have such diametrically opposing views, what are we to think? I did find this interesting article. Does it matter?