Comments on: Bel Canto http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/ your friend Rat Fink fires the neurons at random Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:10:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ross http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1122 Ross Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:52:09 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1122 By the way I forgot to thank you, RF, for the vocal range lesson- all news to me. A major 3rd is a big drop. And 'lady tenor' is a term I've never heard before. Lesson greatly appreciated! By the way I forgot to thank you, RF, for the vocal range lesson- all news to me. A major 3rd is a big drop. And ‘lady tenor’ is a term I’ve never heard before. Lesson greatly appreciated!

]]> By: Jan http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1109 Jan Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:15:41 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1109 Okay here are two in my list- Cavatina from the Deerhunter Vivaldi Concerto for guitar in D (3rd movement) Okay here are two in my list-
Cavatina from the Deerhunter

Vivaldi
Concerto for guitar in D (3rd movement)

]]> By: Jan http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1108 Jan Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:13:50 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1108 ....I knew I had heard that somewhere! ….I knew I had heard that somewhere!

]]> By: Rat Fink http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1107 Rat Fink Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:50:55 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1107 Jan -- if I didn't tell you I heart you in my last email, I'm telling you now. "...grocery list in Italian..." HAA I love doing lists like this. They really force you to think deeply and make choices other than at random, or haphazardly. In the big scheme of life, it's likely just another silly game, but let me tell you that since I started RtB back in February, I have learned much about my own bad self. To the meanyheads out there who say that blogging is useless because it benefits no one: bite me. Jan — if I didn’t tell you I heart you in my last email, I’m telling you now. “…grocery list in Italian…” HAA

I love doing lists like this. They really force you to think deeply and make choices other than at random, or haphazardly. In the big scheme of life, it’s likely just another silly game, but let me tell you that since I started RtB back in February, I have learned much about my own bad self.

To the meanyheads out there who say that blogging is useless because it benefits no one: bite me.

]]> By: Jan http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1102 Jan Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:25:13 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1102 I read this yesterday and it kept me thinking for the entire day. I even talked to my friend and bass player Daniel about it, in whom we have had many philosophical conversations pertaining to this topic. It was birthed from my challenge to him in finding the most beautiful songs in the world. I would have to say that all of my leanings fall instrumentally, because I find that lyric can distract me and I am amazed when an instrumental piece can move me to tears (or joy). So your post caused me to really think about the beauty of lyric, melody, harmony colliding. The Pavarotti Nessun Dorma is definitely up there, although the beauty is not in the lyric as it does not stand alone. The beauty is in how LP delivers it. I mean come on, someone of LP's caliber singing the grocery list in Italian will make you fall off your chair. I will think on this more, and it will enhance my day by the sheer exercise of it. I read this yesterday and it kept me thinking for the entire day. I even talked to my friend and bass player Daniel about it, in whom we have had many philosophical conversations pertaining to this topic. It was birthed from my challenge to him in finding the most beautiful songs in the world. I would have to say that all of my leanings fall instrumentally, because I find that lyric can distract me and I am amazed when an instrumental piece can move me to tears (or joy). So your post caused me to really think about the beauty of lyric, melody, harmony colliding. The Pavarotti Nessun Dorma is definitely up there, although the beauty is not in the lyric as it does not stand alone. The beauty is in how LP delivers it. I mean come on, someone of LP’s caliber singing the grocery list in Italian will make you fall off your chair. I will think on this more, and it will enhance my day by the sheer exercise of it.

]]> By: Rat Fink http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1100 Rat Fink Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:44:12 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1100 <strong>BoomR</strong> - Silly man-beast. (although I really do love the #1!) <strong>Kody</strong> - WoBG is a stand-alone lesson in syncopation. In fact, the next time my choir needs one, I'm gonna bring that in. Thanks for the idea! <strong>Ross</strong> - definitely. There are several factors that cause the loss of higher-end range ability in singers, but the biggy is the decrease of free motion of the larynx and the musculature/cartilage around it. It kind of goes on lockdown, making reaching higher notes really difficult. Many singers (male and female) I've heard over the years have transposed their songs down as far as a major 3rd. Frank Sinatra was especially fond of doing this, and so is Barry Manilow, and a slew of others -- girls included. Tony Bennett is another good example of extraordinary larynx control *and* thinning cords, meaning he not only can sing the higher notes, but sustain them as well. Men's cords have a tendency to thin as they age; with women, it's the opposite. Either way, the control factor presents problems. In 1995, I had surgery to remove two nodes from my vocal cords. (I spent a summer yelling across a marching field at a band of 125 kids, then singing in my own band on the weekends -- ya makes yer choices and ya lives with the consequences.) After that, my voice started to drop noticeably. My soprano days are gone, but I think they exited early because of the damage done. I'm now a lady tenor (think Bea Arthur and Lucille Ball, but not quite as low). But it's all good. My soprano section gets the occasional giggle out of hearing me try to model what they should sound like. It keeps me humble. Speaking of humble, how did this comment start out about Don Henley but end up about me?? BoomR – Silly man-beast. (although I really do love the #1!)

Kody – WoBG is a stand-alone lesson in syncopation. In fact, the next time my choir needs one, I’m gonna bring that in. Thanks for the idea!

Ross – definitely. There are several factors that cause the loss of higher-end range ability in singers, but the biggy is the decrease of free motion of the larynx and the musculature/cartilage around it. It kind of goes on lockdown, making reaching higher notes really difficult.

Many singers (male and female) I’ve heard over the years have transposed their songs down as far as a major 3rd. Frank Sinatra was especially fond of doing this, and so is Barry Manilow, and a slew of others — girls included.

Tony Bennett is another good example of extraordinary larynx control *and* thinning cords, meaning he not only can sing the higher notes, but sustain them as well. Men’s cords have a tendency to thin as they age; with women, it’s the opposite. Either way, the control factor presents problems.

In 1995, I had surgery to remove two nodes from my vocal cords. (I spent a summer yelling across a marching field at a band of 125 kids, then singing in my own band on the weekends — ya makes yer choices and ya lives with the consequences.) After that, my voice started to drop noticeably. My soprano days are gone, but I think they exited early because of the damage done.

I’m now a lady tenor (think Bea Arthur and Lucille Ball, but not quite as low). But it’s all good. My soprano section gets the occasional giggle out of hearing me try to model what they should sound like. It keeps me humble.

Speaking of humble, how did this comment start out about Don Henley but end up about me??

]]> By: Ross http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1099 Ross Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:56:50 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1099 Don Henley still sings the songs in the same key- so you're saying that as singers get older they tend not to do this. On average, how drastic is the change- a half step down? a full step? more? Don Henley still sings the songs in the same key- so you’re saying that as singers get older they tend not to do this. On average, how drastic is the change- a half step down? a full step? more?

]]> By: Kody http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1098 Kody Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:58:12 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1098 Walking on Broken Glass is one of those songs that gets stuck in your head for months. The chorus haunts me to this day. Walking on Broken Glass is one of those songs that gets stuck in your head for months. The chorus haunts me to this day.

]]> By: BoomR http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1097 BoomR Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:33:22 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1097 PS to Stein re: "...songs don't have to have lyrics..." Technically by definition, a song _must_ have lyrics of some sort, otherwise it is not a song, but referred to as a composition, a tune, piece of music, etc. Check some online music dictionaries like: <a href="http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/" rel="nofollow">Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary</a> or <a href="http://www.dolmetsch.com/defss3.htm" rel="nofollow">Dolmetsch Online</a> To RF: re #11 - I **knew** you'd cite "Porkchop"... man, did that bring back a few memories!!! (PS... I hope the URLs that I tried to embed came out OK...) PS to Stein re: “…songs don’t have to have lyrics…”

Technically by definition, a song _must_ have lyrics of some sort, otherwise it is not a song, but referred to as a composition, a tune, piece of music, etc. Check some online music dictionaries like:
Virginia
Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary

or

Dolmetsch Online

To RF: re #11 – I **knew** you’d cite “Porkchop”… man, did that bring back a few memories!!!

(PS… I hope the URLs that I tried to embed came out OK…)

]]> By: BoomR http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1096 BoomR Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:08:23 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1096 The Texas Top 10: 10. You’re The Hangnail In My Life, And I Can’t Bite You Off 9. I Wish I Were An Oscar Mayer Wiener 8. My Hump (Black Eyed Peas) 7. Concert Bb Scale 6. The Magic Bus Ate My Doughnut 5. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer 4. Chopstix 3. The Chicken Song 2. She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy ...and the #1 favorite: 1. Are You Ready For Some Football?! (Hank Williams Jr.) The Texas Top 10:
10. You’re The Hangnail In My Life, And I Can’t Bite You Off
9. I Wish I Were An Oscar Mayer Wiener
8. My Hump (Black Eyed Peas)
7. Concert Bb Scale
6. The Magic Bus Ate My Doughnut
5. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
4. Chopstix
3. The Chicken Song
2. She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy

…and the #1 favorite:
1. Are You Ready For Some Football?! (Hank Williams Jr.)

]]> By: Rat Fink http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1095 Rat Fink Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:36:00 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1095 Ooo, "Solitaire." That's a goody! Karen Carpenter sang that like nobody's biz. (And yes, I love Annie Lennox! "Into the West" from <em>LOTR-ROTK</em> is another fave.) Ooo, “Solitaire.” That’s a goody! Karen Carpenter sang that like nobody’s biz. (And yes, I love Annie Lennox! “Into the West” from LOTR-ROTK is another fave.)

]]> By: meggy http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1094 meggy Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:08:18 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1094 Annie Lennox - “Walking on Broken Glass” >REALLY? Paul McCartney - “Maybe I’m Amazed” >i laughed when I saw this, cuz its ur ringtone when u call me hahaa :) love it 17, 18, 23 :) I must say mine include (in no order) Smile & When I Fall in Love - Nat King Cole Solitaire - Carpenters Time To Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman Pretty Women - Sweeney Todd (my new favorite!) A Love Lke Johnny and June - Heidi Newfield Amazing Grace :) Hallelujah - Damien Rice Imagine - John Lennon I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe How Do I Live Without You - Kenny G/Michael Bolt arrangement Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler Puff the Magic Dragon - PP&M :D welp, cya lata, fink Annie Lennox – “Walking on Broken Glass” >REALLY?
Paul McCartney – “Maybe I’m Amazed”
>i laughed when I saw this, cuz its ur ringtone when u call me hahaa :) love it

17, 18, 23 :)

I must say mine include (in no order)

Smile & When I Fall in Love – Nat King Cole
Solitaire – Carpenters
Time To Say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman
Pretty Women – Sweeney Todd (my new favorite!)
A Love Lke Johnny and June – Heidi Newfield
Amazing Grace :)
Hallelujah – Damien Rice
Imagine – John Lennon
I Can Only Imagine – MercyMe
How Do I Live Without You – Kenny G/Michael Bolt
arrangement
Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
Puff the Magic Dragon – PP&M :D

welp, cya lata, fink

]]> By: Rat Fink http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1093 Rat Fink Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:41:21 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1093 Great songs all, Krissy - I didn't even get into Broadway stuff - I'd have been sitting at this box all day and missed school.... Great songs all, Krissy – I didn’t even get into Broadway stuff – I’d have been sitting at this box all day and missed school….

]]> By: Krissy http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1092 Krissy Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:37:26 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1092 My all-time favorite songs all come from The Phantom of the Opera. In fact, the song "The Phantom of the Opera" is my favorite with "Masquerade" in second. I love all the songs from that musical. The music in it is amazing. After all those songs, comes the songs from Grease. My favorite out of those is definitely "There are Worse Things I Could Do." My all-time favorite songs all come from The Phantom of the Opera. In fact, the song “The Phantom of the Opera” is my favorite with “Masquerade” in second. I love all the songs from that musical. The music in it is amazing. After all those songs, comes the songs from Grease. My favorite out of those is definitely “There are Worse Things I Could Do.”

]]> By: Rat Fink http://www.finkweb.org/bel-canto/#comment-1091 Rat Fink Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:20:49 +0000 http://finkweb.org/?p=2422#comment-1091 <strong>Kody</strong> - 1. This post wasn't about singers, but about the songs they sing. JC is definitely not one of my faves, but I do love that song. 2. That student was a pain in the rear. :P <strong>Ross</strong> - totally agree on Pavarotti being the best of the 20th century. There was no other like him. And Wagner -- for a raging racist and wackjob egomaniac, he was indeed brilliant. Who else can boast that, after building an opera house (Bayreuth) in his own honor, one still has to wait *years* for tickets to his annual festival, where only his music is performed? Crazy. And Paul Simon is great. I'd pay to see him, even now. Another great one: Don Henley, because he still sings all his songs in the same keys he sang them in 30 years ago. Kody – 1. This post wasn’t about singers, but about the songs they sing. JC is definitely not one of my faves, but I do love that song. 2. That student was a pain in the rear.
:P

Ross – totally agree on Pavarotti being the best of the 20th century. There was no other like him. And Wagner — for a raging racist and wackjob egomaniac, he was indeed brilliant. Who else can boast that, after building an opera house (Bayreuth) in his own honor, one still has to wait *years* for tickets to his annual festival, where only his music is performed? Crazy.

And Paul Simon is great. I’d pay to see him, even now. Another great one: Don Henley, because he still sings all his songs in the same keys he sang them in 30 years ago.

]]>