@OpAus Have you listened to my YouTube upload of "Why does the God of Israel sleep?" from "Samson" and 'Comfort ye/Ev'ry Valley" from Messiah? I have a wonderful oratorio CD released by Dutton in the nineties, but, sadly, now no longer available.
@OpAus Thank you for your excellent comment. I agree with you and hope that many other people will realise that Webster Booth was a very fine oratorio tenor.
Handel could not have made this more difficult by putting the word "brave" on that A/Aflat. This is one of the most challenging and difficult arias of the whole tenor repertoire. There are on places to rest, and it all head to the D or D-flat at the end. Anybody that tackles this is brave! My old teacher, Joe Klein, used to use this in the studio to warm us up! LOL It always showed us how much we sucked!!
This is my favorite rendition of this aria on youtube. Although i still feel that the A440s could have been handled better. I think they would have sounded better if he had made no effort at all to make them forceful. It's simply not neccissary.
I think that the force you here is simply the intent and attitude of the song... it is a "fight" song, it is like he is a general calling all of his men to battle and inspiring them to have courage. I think it is appropriate and with better effect than the lame versions I have heard that are too soft. This interpretation is with much passion, which is its original intent.
Beautiful singing one of the great British Tenors, another wonderful recording is by Richard Lewis, sadly we dont have this particular sound available today.
I played it a few minutes ago and it sounded correct to me. I even checked it with the piano and it did not appear to be in a higher key. I suppose it is possible for 78s to play slightly faster than 78rpm, but I am not aware that the recording changes from D major to Eb.
It's up a half step. Checked on piano, then against Korg digital tuner, to make sure. I have it written in D; he's singing it in Eb. But top singers often transposed in those days (tho' usually down).
It doesn't sound like it's played at the wrong speed -- his tempo and pause going into the cadenza all sound within performance tempo and his vibrato doesn't sound artificially fast.
Let's give him credit for kicking tenor rump. It's beautiful.
Thank you for doing that - the digital tuner must be completely accurate.
At the age of 61 he sang the tenor part in "Elijah" in Pietermaritzburg. The MD told everyone that the organ was pitched a semitone higher than concert pitch so the orchestra would have to tune up accordingly. When asked whether the higher pitch would be a problem for Webster at his advanced singing age, he replied that he would just put on a second jockstrap and all would be well! As far as I know, it was!
Though Webster had an excellent top, it does not really sound like his voice at this speed. In fact I have the original, and at 78rpm, it is in score pitch.
@saltburner2 I suspect this recording is a semitone higher than it should be because it was taken from a reel-to-reel tape which Webster made of many of his 78rpms in the early sixties. If you would care to upload your 78rpm to YouTube at the correct speed I'll take this one off.
Thank you for the wonderful treat. Lovely legato line, pleasant interpretation. Richard Tucker's [live] version (see video response) is, in my opinion, the best ever recorded.
A great offering from one of my favourite English tenors. Have searched in vain for his rendition of 'Waft her angels through the skies' from Jeptha - Will someone out there post it - PLEASE!
I had never heard about this tenor. It was a very good surprise to listen to him. Although he lacks a little roudiness, he had a very balanced use of the registers. What a blessed voice. Thanks for posting this video.
Thank you for your comment. Webster Booth was an English tenor (1902-1984) who was a leading oratorio soloist from the thirties to the mid-fifties. He is best remembered as a duettist with his wife, soprano Anne Ziegler.
Dear duettists, I can't stop playing this. So majestic. There must be more!!!
OpAus 1 year ago
@OpAus Have you listened to my YouTube upload of "Why does the God of Israel sleep?" from "Samson" and 'Comfort ye/Ev'ry Valley" from Messiah? I have a wonderful oratorio CD released by Dutton in the nineties, but, sadly, now no longer available.
duettists 1 year ago
Sublime and indeed the one true Handelian version on youtube to date
OpAus 1 year ago
@OpAus Thank you for your excellent comment. I agree with you and hope that many other people will realise that Webster Booth was a very fine oratorio tenor.
duettists 1 year ago
my voice teacher assigned this song to me...
my face when I read it: O_o;
DStroyU 1 year ago
@DStroyU It's a wonderful aria. I wish you every success with it.
duettists 1 year ago
Handel could not have made this more difficult by putting the word "brave" on that A/Aflat. This is one of the most challenging and difficult arias of the whole tenor repertoire. There are on places to rest, and it all head to the D or D-flat at the end. Anybody that tackles this is brave! My old teacher, Joe Klein, used to use this in the studio to warm us up! LOL It always showed us how much we sucked!!
orovalleydude 2 years ago
What an interesting observation. Thank you for it.
duettists 2 years ago
at 1:07 he says trumpets weird, but evrything else is great. I actually have to play this solo on tuba in a couple of months, this song is hard!
ThePedro1233 2 years ago
I think this is definitely the best rendition on Youtube... the marcato on the melisma is awesome!!!
leggerotenor 2 years ago 2
This is my favorite rendition of this aria on youtube. Although i still feel that the A440s could have been handled better. I think they would have sounded better if he had made no effort at all to make them forceful. It's simply not neccissary.
24yotenor 2 years ago
I think that the force you here is simply the intent and attitude of the song... it is a "fight" song, it is like he is a general calling all of his men to battle and inspiring them to have courage. I think it is appropriate and with better effect than the lame versions I have heard that are too soft. This interpretation is with much passion, which is its original intent.
leggerotenor 2 years ago
A very nice rendition! Also very good by Richard Tucker and Jan Peerce! Thanks for posting!
mayflash67 2 years ago
Beautiful singing one of the great British Tenors, another wonderful recording is by Richard Lewis, sadly we dont have this particular sound available today.
Bainer34 3 years ago
Richard Lewis had possibly "the" best Handel aria album - incredibly beautiful
gnativerson 2 years ago
Is this up a half step?
Justin43212 3 years ago
Just played at the wrong speed.
VinylToVideo 3 years ago
I played it a few minutes ago and it sounded correct to me. I even checked it with the piano and it did not appear to be in a higher key. I suppose it is possible for 78s to play slightly faster than 78rpm, but I am not aware that the recording changes from D major to Eb.
duettists 3 years ago
It's up a half step. Checked on piano, then against Korg digital tuner, to make sure. I have it written in D; he's singing it in Eb. But top singers often transposed in those days (tho' usually down).
It doesn't sound like it's played at the wrong speed -- his tempo and pause going into the cadenza all sound within performance tempo and his vibrato doesn't sound artificially fast.
Let's give him credit for kicking tenor rump. It's beautiful.
alan2a1l 2 years ago 3
Thank you for doing that - the digital tuner must be completely accurate.
At the age of 61 he sang the tenor part in "Elijah" in Pietermaritzburg. The MD told everyone that the organ was pitched a semitone higher than concert pitch so the orchestra would have to tune up accordingly. When asked whether the higher pitch would be a problem for Webster at his advanced singing age, he replied that he would just put on a second jockstrap and all would be well! As far as I know, it was!
duettists 2 years ago
@alan2a1l
Though Webster had an excellent top, it does not really sound like his voice at this speed. In fact I have the original, and at 78rpm, it is in score pitch.
saltburner2 1 month ago
@saltburner2 I suspect this recording is a semitone higher than it should be because it was taken from a reel-to-reel tape which Webster made of many of his 78rpms in the early sixties. If you would care to upload your 78rpm to YouTube at the correct speed I'll take this one off.
duettists 1 month ago
@duettists
Send me a personal message with an email address and I'll send you MP3 files to post.
saltburner2 1 month ago
With Booth and Tucker on Tube doing this aria,we need the recording by Richard Crooks to make a mighty trio of this piece to blow listeners away.
fedtrooper 3 years ago
You got your wish. "RICHARD CROOKS SINGS HANDEL." His is very good as well...I am surprised by the consistent quality of this aria on YouTube.
Chiliarches 3 years ago
Thank you for the wonderful treat. Lovely legato line, pleasant interpretation. Richard Tucker's [live] version (see video response) is, in my opinion, the best ever recorded.
jontew 3 years ago
A fine and moving sequence of pictures featuring the owner of this unmistakable voice. Thank you for making it all available.
Hoggwood 3 years ago
Thank you for your comment. I was very glad to be able to post this lovely recording.
duettists 3 years ago
I shall try to post "Waft her angels" soon. It is one of my favourites also.
duettists 4 years ago
Thank you duettists - You have made an old man very happy!
Bardobrig 4 years ago
A great offering from one of my favourite English tenors. Have searched in vain for his rendition of 'Waft her angels through the skies' from Jeptha - Will someone out there post it - PLEASE!
Bardobrig 4 years ago
I had never heard about this tenor. It was a very good surprise to listen to him. Although he lacks a little roudiness, he had a very balanced use of the registers. What a blessed voice. Thanks for posting this video.
sidneialferes 4 years ago 2
Thank you for your comment. Webster Booth was an English tenor (1902-1984) who was a leading oratorio soloist from the thirties to the mid-fifties. He is best remembered as a duettist with his wife, soprano Anne Ziegler.
duettists 4 years ago