High Alto-tude
For altos with attitude
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Monday, June 12, 2023
Exploring New Worlds
This week's work has been a lesson in taking what's on offer, diving into it and seeing what happens. I suspect that most of us performers find ourselves in that position at times, especially women who sing certain parts (the supply & demand thing) or are of certain age (my theater friends tell me). Opportunities in one's preferred genre might be slim or groups working in it may not exist locally. We can choose something from what's available or not sing at all.
Although I've happily sung Bach at various times, the Baroque isn't my favorite period. Still, when the opportunity to sing in the chorus at a nearby Bach Festival, it seemed like a gift after having gone through several years of little classical in the repertoires of the choral groups I'd been in. So I decided that instead of continuing to miss singing madrigals all summer, I'd dive into this.
Along with learning the parts via the scrolling score recordings I've been able to find on YouTube, I've been reading a bit about Bach and his times. Watching videos about dances of the period, the fashions in clothing and even something about the German Lutheran church of the time, for which Bach composed much of his music.
Even for those of us who consider ourselves Scanners (many interests in small bits), sometimes being a Diver (one all-consuming passion) for a week or month can yield surprising results. It could be a new way of approaching rehearsals. It could be interest in a new genre. It could veer off into side ventures such as exploring the history of the period, learning a new language or planning a trip. And in the midst of all of this, there's always the possibility of making new friends or finding a new enthusiasm.
The water might be chilly at first. Or it may be warm and inviting right away. But you won't know until you dive in.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Great Voices
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Friday, August 12, 2016
What's Your Flavor?
Lower voices can have richness and weight. Here are some other words I've heard or read that have described Mezzo or Contralto voices: bluesy, smoky, velvety, and dark. Even if your voice isn't one of these (I'm pretty sure mine isn't!), it's possible to develop some deeper color (or you can think of it as flavor or feel, depending on which of your five senses is sharpest) when needed for a particular piece. Simply listening to great singers can give you a sense of how it should sound.
If you're a first alto or if you feel most comfortable singing the middle part in a three-voiced women's piece, it helps to develop your lower register as well as your high one. This may take some work; if you have private lessons, you can ask your instructor for exercises that help. I know my own voice gets cranky when it has to dip beneath the G below Middle C, so if the choir is working on a piece with a very low alto line, I have to practice daily.
Here are several videos or recordings of just a few voices that have the richness I'm talking about. I've tried to include examples from various musical genres but the list is just a start.
- If you're classically-minded or love opera, videos or recordings by the great contralto Marian Anderson and mezzos Denyce Graves & Jessye Norman are the perfect place to start.
- The Dark is My Delight, Brian Asawa, countertenor. Some listeners don't like countertenor voices but I find his exceptionally clear, with the perfect quality for the Elizabethan-era music he sings here.
- Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span) and June Tabor (Fairport Convention), two English folk singers who were active during the British folk revival of the 60s-70s, have put out numerous solo, duet and group recordings. This is a sample of one of their traditional songs.
- Anything by KD Lang is inspiring, but I especially like her 2010 Winter Olympics version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.
- Annie Lennox has a wide range of work but to me her voice is especially suited to ballads like this.
- Lena Horne will please jazz, Broadway and big band enthusiasts.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Time to Get Back to Work
Setting a few personal goals can help, even if singing is something you do purely for enjoyment. Goals need to be meaningful only to you. They could include such things as
- Improve sightreading skills. For example, as someone who finds working with numbers a challenge, tricky beats and rhythms give me ongoing opportunities to work on this particular aspect of reading music.
- Learn to enjoy music from unfamiliar genres. During rehearsals for the 2014 Christmas concerts, I was surprised to discover that my two favorite pieces turned out to be what I'd call contemporary, which was a switch for me.
- Make 1-2 new friendships or, if it's a small group, get to know everyone in your section on a neighborly level.
- Try out for small ensemble work if your director or chorus offers this opportunity. For me, one of last year's high points was being able to participate in a smaller group doing Benjamin Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia. It was like musical boot camp - the hardest project I'd had in years, but very rewarding.