Aaron Copland - Long Time Ago

[fieryblueband]

Song (titled Near the Lake Where Drooped the Willow) was written in 1839 (Music by: Charles. E. Horn, Words by: Geo. P. Morris, Esq.)

Copeland hardly wrote this. I think it's a shame the original composers get almost no attribution for it.

[ferociousgumby]

Melancholy beauty. Bittersweet. Where does this song come from? Many people think it's Stephen Foster, but it's usually listed as "trad" or "anon". Someone must have written it however! I like the simplicity of the piano accompaniment, and Warfield has never sounded more translucent, but I do miss those little frissons in the woodwind section. Warfield's diction was incredible, never seeming artificial but just crystalline.

[MuseDuCafe]

I guess now we are sure of the definitive tempo! Many recordings, including the orchestral version of American Songs (set 1) are much too fast. This tempo 'juste' gives the song the feeling the composer wished to convey, and it becomes less than easy for the singer - simple song, difficult singing. Thanks for this post!

[TheRoypim]

so bitter-sweet

[polkadotpolka123]

i'm singing this in my singing exam :D

[guetary]

Sheer perfection in the marriage of voice, song and composer/pianist. Mr Copland was exceptionally well served by Mr Warfield (heard here in his all too short prime). Quite wonderful.

[chkjns]

OK youngsters, listen UP! U can run from uglier parts of America's past but you can't hide! Copland's a GIANT among American musicians.

Yes the picture's sad, capitalism stole her childhood, turned her into a bot! This pianist is the gay son of Lithuanian Jews who had to leave their home so's NOT to be murdered. The singer's black, this recording's 1955. He's not allowed to openly TOUCH a white person!

Today, Phoenix bans folk from 1 free church meal 1 day a week, for the crime of being POOR!

[bbdupon]

@chkjns Damn straight! 

[FromCarol]

Oh don't let little girls scare you. She, too has a story to tell. Listen to it. Listen to the voice that you know so well. your own.. See, now you are not so scared. Are you?

From Carol,,

[lewars1912]

@FromCarol Nicely put

[FromCarol]

@lewars1912 Thanks. I like words.

[Jonas710001]

The girl does creep me out!

[ferociousgumby]

Magnificent, but I don't get the commentary/titles at all. What does this have to do with - ???

[smurdock5123]

Excellent song but creepy picture....

[xxloveblakelewisxx]

oh.

I have to do this for a solo, just soprano.

Thanks for uploading. It's challanging. :)

Although I'm only thriteen. It's hard. But a great tune!

[FutureFame317]

Thanks so much for uploading this video!!!!

[2007timmymac]

haha i sang this at nyssma :P i got a 98 :( i breathe too loud and i need to work on my phrasing. its a beautiful song!

[AznAlive]

this is a really beautiful song. Our choir did this song last year. :)

[Argentino246]

currently reading copland's bio by howard pollack so this is very timely - warfield was quite special (i believe he was married to leontyne price)...

[poopsies9009]

sounds a lil froggy

[omarbunni]

This is a vocally challenging piece.

Mr. Warfield emotes passion and sadness in his interpretation. BRAVO !!!

[piano6861]

Beautifully done!

[ZwinkyBuzzTV]

whats with the picture of the creep girl?

i like the song & all just the girl is scaring me

[tubapol]

Try reading the additional info provided by the video's creater.

[lewars1912]

@ZwinkyBuzzTV Sad photo and she's not a "creep girl". Some of you young women don't realise how fortunate you are.

[chkjns]

@ZwinkyBuzzTV - she SHOULD scare you, she never had the chance to be a child like we did, read the notes on the video instead of playing zwinky!

The purpose of history is to remind us what we've done right & what we've done wrong. Just like the holocaust of WW2, child labor was a holocaust against American youth, & while we're at it . . .

This recording is 1955 or 1958. The singer here was forbidden to drink or even sit with white people back then, or even be in the room nextdoor at a hotel.

[shf84]

@ZwinkyBuzzTV

It was a why they had of enhancing their complexion back in those days, it was called Malaria.

[lazerthepackmule]

It feels to slow to me. Also, while the singer has good tone it sounds to far back. He is singing into the back of his throat and his sound needs to be more focused.

[doug2dougsound]

Beltone or any audiologist can help you with your

hearing problem-

That is William Warfield singing..are you just

completely out of your mind?

You have to be a dipsh*t or you'd know how to spell "too"

[chkjns]

@lazerthepackmule - Aaron Copland was one of the greatest masters of American music. If this voice suited Copland, it's perfect for me, too!

Remember that Warfield was a man treated like dirt by white America when this was recorded in 1955-1958. The song is a sad one about a girl who died too young, it needs to be slow for the emotional effect. The lyrics are up in the info box.

[UGAOpera]

this is truly beautiful. thanks for posting.

[BachLoveNat]

beautiful