Re: Your least favorite Libera song is?
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:25 pm
I admit to have problems with a theme of or an entire classical instrumental piece taken and converted into singing. It is alright for me with I Vow To Thee, My Country, because it was Gustav Holst himself who used his own composition to set a poem to music. And it was comparatively quickly done for me to accept and like The Fountain, since I simply cannot resist Ralph Skan's voice and his way of singing. Also liking Salve Regina went completely smoothly, because the instrumental can already be considered as a song. (I referred to this topic already in my "Hope" review) But Sacris Solemnis hasn't made it and Lacrymosa either.
When I heard the first sounds of Going Home, I thought: No, no, please. I honestly was quite sad. The symphony "From the New World" is from the beginning to the end one of my favourite symphonies. The 2nd theme of its 2nd movement (Largo) is something absolutely magic to me, unique in a way I can't tell here. Going Home uses the 1st theme of the Largo, and despite my basic dislike of a sung version, I'm yet glad that it isn't this 2nd theme that was touched.
After hearing Libera, I noticed that there exist many more interpretations of the singing version, which relieved me a bit, because it wasn't Libera alone anymore, if that makes sense? Thank you for posting some versions. Used for an advert ... well ... And wow - what a wonderfully deeeep voice of Paul Robeson! However, in this very case, I am, if at all, capable to like the Libera-Michael-Horncastle version (and I do so now, yes! ), but that's really it.
I'm aware that I'm pretty much alone with my general view on classic instrumental pieces being sung.
One remark to I Vow To Thee and Jerusalem: I like both of them for their lovely melodies - I have a special affection for beautiful melodies, therefore also my love for Dvořák's music, he was a great melodist - and harmonies. I've never been a big fan of Ben Philipp (yes, also very alone, I know ) but in Jerusalem his and the choir's voices just shine. Regarding I Vow To Thee, I like the Leiden live version best and in the "Free" version I like Ben Crawley's solo with that nasal voice when he sings "country". Jupiter not so much as a mere song, but used as ice skating music, I find it good and very suitable.
When I heard the first sounds of Going Home, I thought: No, no, please. I honestly was quite sad. The symphony "From the New World" is from the beginning to the end one of my favourite symphonies. The 2nd theme of its 2nd movement (Largo) is something absolutely magic to me, unique in a way I can't tell here. Going Home uses the 1st theme of the Largo, and despite my basic dislike of a sung version, I'm yet glad that it isn't this 2nd theme that was touched.
After hearing Libera, I noticed that there exist many more interpretations of the singing version, which relieved me a bit, because it wasn't Libera alone anymore, if that makes sense? Thank you for posting some versions. Used for an advert ... well ... And wow - what a wonderfully deeeep voice of Paul Robeson! However, in this very case, I am, if at all, capable to like the Libera-Michael-Horncastle version (and I do so now, yes! ), but that's really it.
I'm aware that I'm pretty much alone with my general view on classic instrumental pieces being sung.
One remark to I Vow To Thee and Jerusalem: I like both of them for their lovely melodies - I have a special affection for beautiful melodies, therefore also my love for Dvořák's music, he was a great melodist - and harmonies. I've never been a big fan of Ben Philipp (yes, also very alone, I know ) but in Jerusalem his and the choir's voices just shine. Regarding I Vow To Thee, I like the Leiden live version best and in the "Free" version I like Ben Crawley's solo with that nasal voice when he sings "country". Jupiter not so much as a mere song, but used as ice skating music, I find it good and very suitable.