does anybody know where I can get Brittan's arrangement for piano? I can make out most of it, but I'm not as young as I once was! Any help appreciated.
Beautiful! thanks for sharing. In ART, and in this case in music and singing only TALENT should matter, and nothing else! Artists' private life is only their own business and nobody else's!
@sjlove2bird I doubt it, although probably one of the first publicly-acknowledged (and largely accepted) same-sex couples. Unlike today's show-offs and triumphalists, they were gentlemanly and discreet about it (rather like Dirk Bogarde). Pears is often criticised as a vocalist (and was of course the subject of a wickedly accurate impersonation by Dudley Moore), but you have to be very assured to carry a difficult song like this off, especially under the pressure of public performance.
@Fredigundis22 They were discreet about it because at the time it was a crime to be Gay. I come from the same town as Britten and I must say his treatment by his birth town was awful. At my school in the 1950's he was never invited to speak to us and I remember my music teacher talking of him when I asked , with disdain. This music partnership was superb but in a 19th century mindset the couple were not really accepted . They HAVE named a school after him in Lowestoft.. Rather late I think.
@Pitcairn2 I understand your point, but I don't think that the illegality of homosexual acts at the time in any way detracts from Britten's and Pears's discretion and gentlemanliness, which I think was a product of wider cultural forces than a misconceived (and actually soon-to-be-abolished) law. The attitudes that brought about such laws lay a good deal further in the past than the 19th century (and it is significant that countries such as France had no such laws, even then).
@Fredigundis22 Yes but while technically illegal, if you were of a certain 'class' as Britten was it was also 'brushed under the carpet' . Britten was also disliked because of his pacifism , the town where he was born (my town) was absolute hammered by the Luftwaffe for 4 years between 1939 and 1944, and there was a lot of bitterness over this amongst the locals even up to the 1960's, particularly against those who 'did not fight'.
Cont.. However I am glad to say that he is now recognised in place of origin in these more enlightened times.. I am proud to come from Brittens home town, and I am a great fan of his music. In school back in the early 60's we were continually played old recordings of 'Peter and the Wolf' to teach us about the orchestra. They NEVER played us 'The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra' which seemed mad to me.. Looking forward again to going back to Snape in the Spring. Wonderful place.
@Pitcairn2 That's a good point - official hypocrisy on the part of the establishment, many of whom came from those notoriously heterosexual institutions, English public schools! I'd also forgotten about Britten's pacifism; in the light of this, I can well understand why those who lived through and remembered the air-raids might reasonably have a jaundiced view of him. But when hue and cry dies down and the dust settles the only thing left is the music.
@Pitcairn2 I'm also sorry to learn about Britten's shoddy treatment by his home town. As far as naming a school after him, well, better late than never! It does suggest that attitudes are changing for the better, and that a great artist is finally (if belatedly) receiving his due recognition.
Here we can see why the very great accompanist Gerald Moore called Britten "the best accompanist of all." Many thanks for this post, exquisite indeed.
What a delightful collection of chords harmonising the melody. Just great - I love to hear each note in so many different "lights". thanks for putting this up.
HE HAS a tremolo.. the vibrato is too slow and it wavers from the true pitch. Some listeners dont notice it. They say its caused by too much breath pressure through the cords, instead of singing on the breath support.
@moo7chi7ld Sorry, have to disagree with you here, no tremulo, vibrato, yes, and wonderfully under control. Would like to know who your "they" is. Pears's singing is definitely supported by the diaphragm. We can agree to disagree?
@mckavitt If you use the vocal chords inefficiently, you can have a diaphragm like Superman's and the tone will be breathy, with comparatively little projection, loud, soft, or in between. And you'll run out of breath a lot sooner. A healthy diaphragm is necessary, also good vocal chords. That's why nodes on the chords are such a hassle; they cause inefficiency of breath usage, leading to rough sounds. Nothing wrong with rough sounds when wanted. Pears was a master. He knows what he's doing.
@moo7chi7ld What the heck does "on the breath support" mean? To most people, it seems to mean a supported tone comes from the diaphragm only. No...the vocal chords are mostly responsible for that. IF and only IF the vocal chords make efficient use of the breath pressure from the diaphragm will there be a supported tone. It makes all the difference in the world. If one sings in the cold, a supported tone will cause the breath to rise slowly, straight up. Efficient chord use causes that.
Thank you so much; I adore Britten as a pianist (and also Pears as a singer) and this is actually the first video where I see him playing. He was an astonishing good pianist and his range of colours immensly rich; even in this simple folk song every moment has its own shade and meaning. Woow I adore him!
This is an interpretation. Everyone has their own style and interpretation to what they hear a song to be. Bob Dylan infuriated audiences when he played at the Newport Folk Festival on Electric Guitar, which insulted "true Folk'ists..." but thanks to the Beatles introducing him to it, we have the music he created.
Benjamin Britten played and composed for himself.
Bob Dylan did the same.
Both are different, but have music which ties them together, regardless of their inspiration or calling
you're an idiot... this music wasn't arranged for "folk" festivals. Rachmaninoff, Bartok, Stravinsky, and even, Mahler were beautifully incorporating folk melodies before what you see as folk even existed, and obviously had a much better concept of it than you. Maybe if you weren't such an americanized piece of shit you wouldn't be so ignorant to the ways of European folk.
Hey, @Valhalla0.....can you go easy on Americans. please? Some Americans are here to enjoy beautiful music and engage in lively conversation with other music lovers, such as yourself. Most Europeans are genuine and intelligent people. And so are we.
Nonsense Murmac. Womad Festival would love it. It is not called a Folk festival, but as we know, all the music is indigenous. They have proper respect for all kinds musicians. As long as it's quality music and from the heart and , why shouldn' t anyone express themselves in a music festival. So it's not your cuppa. You're being very closed-minded which is not the ethos of any folk festival, is it..
Thanks for the upload. I performed this yesterday in a masterclass to the baritone, Jeremy Huw Williams, who pointed me in this direction - had no idea how great it could be.
Simply wonderful in every way.What else is there to say.
Thank you
trevorpope1913 5 days ago
So amazingly beautiful; even though I still detest playing it in Orchestra.
WarlordLuvzMCR 2 weeks ago
does anybody know where I can get Brittan's arrangement for piano? I can make out most of it, but I'm not as young as I once was! Any help appreciated.
marginallymental 1 month ago
Beautiful! thanks for sharing. In ART, and in this case in music and singing only TALENT should matter, and nothing else! Artists' private life is only their own business and nobody else's!
serenaluce 3 months ago
Do you know when this was recorded and what the program was called?
SeanMichael12288 4 months ago
i read an article that made fun of Pears's voice.... saying that it was dry and white. I actually think it's quite lovely.
ModernBrandon 4 months ago
Nice cardie!
jonjamg 5 months ago
Maravilhoso
JadsonAlvares 10 months ago
Comforting to see man boobs existed back then too.
fremsley001 11 months ago
I had to sing this in singclass. ohboy; it didn't work =x
anaisxxxlove 1 year ago
Re Bieber:Thank God for that - aren't you a bit lost on this page?
Oh those chords
cgreet90 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
He's okay, but he ain't Justin Bieber.
justinbieberforking 1 year ago
A real gem. A superb performance of an excellent arrangement of this famous folk song.
all1rog 1 year ago
Sheer genius on two counts. Isolated in Suffolk due to their homosexuality. Thank God the music and recordings survive. Music on a higher level...
MegaLocrian 1 year ago
the original same-sex "married" couple!
sjlove2bird 1 year ago
@sjlove2bird I doubt it, although probably one of the first publicly-acknowledged (and largely accepted) same-sex couples. Unlike today's show-offs and triumphalists, they were gentlemanly and discreet about it (rather like Dirk Bogarde). Pears is often criticised as a vocalist (and was of course the subject of a wickedly accurate impersonation by Dudley Moore), but you have to be very assured to carry a difficult song like this off, especially under the pressure of public performance.
Fredigundis22 11 months ago
@Fredigundis22 They were discreet about it because at the time it was a crime to be Gay. I come from the same town as Britten and I must say his treatment by his birth town was awful. At my school in the 1950's he was never invited to speak to us and I remember my music teacher talking of him when I asked , with disdain. This music partnership was superb but in a 19th century mindset the couple were not really accepted . They HAVE named a school after him in Lowestoft.. Rather late I think.
Pitcairn2 3 months ago
@Pitcairn2 I understand your point, but I don't think that the illegality of homosexual acts at the time in any way detracts from Britten's and Pears's discretion and gentlemanliness, which I think was a product of wider cultural forces than a misconceived (and actually soon-to-be-abolished) law. The attitudes that brought about such laws lay a good deal further in the past than the 19th century (and it is significant that countries such as France had no such laws, even then).
Fredigundis22 3 months ago
@Fredigundis22 Yes but while technically illegal, if you were of a certain 'class' as Britten was it was also 'brushed under the carpet' . Britten was also disliked because of his pacifism , the town where he was born (my town) was absolute hammered by the Luftwaffe for 4 years between 1939 and 1944, and there was a lot of bitterness over this amongst the locals even up to the 1960's, particularly against those who 'did not fight'.
Pitcairn2 3 months ago
Cont.. However I am glad to say that he is now recognised in place of origin in these more enlightened times.. I am proud to come from Brittens home town, and I am a great fan of his music. In school back in the early 60's we were continually played old recordings of 'Peter and the Wolf' to teach us about the orchestra. They NEVER played us 'The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra' which seemed mad to me.. Looking forward again to going back to Snape in the Spring. Wonderful place.
Pitcairn2 3 months ago
@Pitcairn2 That's a good point - official hypocrisy on the part of the establishment, many of whom came from those notoriously heterosexual institutions, English public schools! I'd also forgotten about Britten's pacifism; in the light of this, I can well understand why those who lived through and remembered the air-raids might reasonably have a jaundiced view of him. But when hue and cry dies down and the dust settles the only thing left is the music.
Fredigundis22 3 months ago
@Pitcairn2 I'm also sorry to learn about Britten's shoddy treatment by his home town. As far as naming a school after him, well, better late than never! It does suggest that attitudes are changing for the better, and that a great artist is finally (if belatedly) receiving his due recognition.
Fredigundis22 3 months ago
I'm not trying to make fun of him, but is there something wrong with his arm(s)? He has them in a rather awkward position throughout the song.
ib4colts2 1 year ago
@ib4colts2 I think he's just trying to keep himself aligned as he sings, notice how up his ribcage is, allowing deeper breathing, ect.
greenethump3 1 year ago
Peter Pears, the perfect reference of how to sing Britten
jonathanraman 1 year ago
Here we can see why the very great accompanist Gerald Moore called Britten "the best accompanist of all." Many thanks for this post, exquisite indeed.
mckavitt 1 year ago
This is absolutely wondeful! Britten playing and the most beautiful expression and control by the singer!
mrllk1 1 year ago
The finest advert for mens knitwear I have ever seen.
fremsley001 2 years ago 5
What a delightful collection of chords harmonising the melody. Just great - I love to hear each note in so many different "lights". thanks for putting this up.
scottishcalv 2 years ago 5
HE HAS a tremolo.. the vibrato is too slow and it wavers from the true pitch. Some listeners dont notice it. They say its caused by too much breath pressure through the cords, instead of singing on the breath support.
moo7chi7ld 2 years ago
@moo7chi7ld Sorry, have to disagree with you here, no tremulo, vibrato, yes, and wonderfully under control. Would like to know who your "they" is. Pears's singing is definitely supported by the diaphragm. We can agree to disagree?
mckavitt 1 year ago
@mckavitt If you use the vocal chords inefficiently, you can have a diaphragm like Superman's and the tone will be breathy, with comparatively little projection, loud, soft, or in between. And you'll run out of breath a lot sooner. A healthy diaphragm is necessary, also good vocal chords. That's why nodes on the chords are such a hassle; they cause inefficiency of breath usage, leading to rough sounds. Nothing wrong with rough sounds when wanted. Pears was a master. He knows what he's doing.
dynomax101 10 months ago 2
@moo7chi7ld What the heck does "on the breath support" mean? To most people, it seems to mean a supported tone comes from the diaphragm only. No...the vocal chords are mostly responsible for that. IF and only IF the vocal chords make efficient use of the breath pressure from the diaphragm will there be a supported tone. It makes all the difference in the world. If one sings in the cold, a supported tone will cause the breath to rise slowly, straight up. Efficient chord use causes that.
dynomax101 10 months ago
@dynomax101 vocal cord, not cords.
KozenaFan 3 months ago
HOW FUCKING WONDERFUL IS THIS!!!!
luisortmul 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
hello everyone!!! please can you give my water is wide version a listen and please comment on what you think....thanks abi x
abiquinn 2 years ago
Thank you so much; I adore Britten as a pianist (and also Pears as a singer) and this is actually the first video where I see him playing. He was an astonishing good pianist and his range of colours immensly rich; even in this simple folk song every moment has its own shade and meaning. Woow I adore him!
janraffaello 2 years ago 25
Thank you for posting this. It's exquisite.
LilyBess 2 years ago 13
This comment has received too many negative votes show
just one more example of why classical musicians should stick to what they know, and leave folk music alone.
this performance would have been laughed off stage if they had ever had the temerity to air it at any folk festival.
murrmac 2 years ago
This is an interpretation. Everyone has their own style and interpretation to what they hear a song to be. Bob Dylan infuriated audiences when he played at the Newport Folk Festival on Electric Guitar, which insulted "true Folk'ists..." but thanks to the Beatles introducing him to it, we have the music he created.
Benjamin Britten played and composed for himself.
Bob Dylan did the same.
Both are different, but have music which ties them together, regardless of their inspiration or calling
BrandonMSherman 2 years ago 7
you're an idiot... this music wasn't arranged for "folk" festivals. Rachmaninoff, Bartok, Stravinsky, and even, Mahler were beautifully incorporating folk melodies before what you see as folk even existed, and obviously had a much better concept of it than you. Maybe if you weren't such an americanized piece of shit you wouldn't be so ignorant to the ways of European folk.
Valhalla0 2 years ago
that was directed at murrmac btw
Valhalla0 2 years ago
Hey, @Valhalla0.....can you go easy on Americans. please? Some Americans are here to enjoy beautiful music and engage in lively conversation with other music lovers, such as yourself. Most Europeans are genuine and intelligent people. And so are we.
marginallymental 3 weeks ago
Nonsense Murmac. Womad Festival would love it. It is not called a Folk festival, but as we know, all the music is indigenous. They have proper respect for all kinds musicians. As long as it's quality music and from the heart and , why shouldn' t anyone express themselves in a music festival. So it's not your cuppa. You're being very closed-minded which is not the ethos of any folk festival, is it..
LaMagnifica13 2 years ago
That is a ridiculous statement! Your post should be laughed off youtube!!!
olialto7 2 years ago 2
Comment removed
CzarDodon 2 years ago
Thanks for the upload. I performed this yesterday in a masterclass to the baritone, Jeremy Huw Williams, who pointed me in this direction - had no idea how great it could be.
enodrawkcab 3 years ago 2
distant voices still lives end title!!! great movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gouvyrock 3 years ago
Lovely to hear the folk songs,well done and well sung by Peter....Greets and thanks for posting..
bilstew 3 years ago 2
Great song, weird harmonization by Britten.
JeeRant 3 years ago
Beautiful, beautiful song beautifully performed by both.
Dulciethecat 3 years ago 6
Thanks for uploading this wonderful special vid, in which we can see also the composer himself and the way he's playing the piano.
Peter Pears is wonderful!
wolkowy1 3 years ago 5
Muchas Gracias por subir este video
anfalagu 3 years ago