Jessye Norman, Deep River, Levine,Carnegie Hall 1990

[hawkturkey]

She sings this spiritual beautifully enough for this here redneck Christian. This sounds like asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, and if they're not your angels or your pin then woe betide them in your eyes. For shame. All serious Christians can relate to the colorblind picture, borrowed from (and foreshadowed by) the Old Testament account of Israel crossing the Jordan river, of crossing over from earth (where all are slave to sin) to heaven (where all are free from sin).

[TheCapricorn2008]

I love her low range!!!

[COWBOY5863]

It is amusing to read comments from some who know nothing whatsoever about music.  It is patently ridiculous to even imply a classical singer cannot sing spirituals. For the uninformed...spirituals were not always about despair...Deep River was about joining the Underground Railroad and escaping into Canada (campground). Should she have dressed as a slave? Should Pavarotti have dressed in a period piece to sing Nessum Dorma Brush up on your history first, and your Black History in particular.

[jhernandez16]

I think her classical training affects her gospel singing in a bad way. What a shame.

[juanchulobk]

@jhernandez16 what a moronic thing to say. she never was a gospel singer. all they do is bark and scream anyway.

[jhernandez16]

@juanchulobk No. Singing spirituals is about tradition though. It is linked with an awful past of oppression and slavery, and if she is going to dress the part, then she should learn the tradition...the classical way of singing this is too "nice" for this. This song is more about hope ad-mist despair, not about covered vowels and all the technical aspects of singing.

[nllanduita]

What an amazing voice Ms. Norman has . . . what a musician, too! Although I love "Deep River," I'll never love anything more than I did hearing her sing "Amazing Grace," a capella, for Nelson Mandela. That was such an amazing experience!

[OperaMystery80]

I love Jessye Norman but I didn't like Kathleen Battle. It's obvious they didn't get along because both had diva attitudes but especially Battle. When they sang together also it was too much of a contrast , Battle had a puny little voice and was small in stature, Jessye had an enormous voice and was a large woman in size. She looked like she could eat Kathy for breakfast LOL

[ferociousgumby]

Too slowly, it drags. And what is this "over Jerden"?

[Drdajackson]

@georgiannanyman-of course you realize that music appreciation is subjective. Marion Anderson disapproved of Norman? Hardly! That demeans Anderson, who was oppressed for much or most of her career. This song is one of my favorites in all its diverse versions, from this one to Sam Cooke (my favorite arrangement) to the Whiffenpoof's rendition, where an Asian brother is outrageous, going in range from bass to soprano. Witness:

[georgiannanyman]

From the ornate gown to the overly dramatic acting it seemed the utter simplicity and deep inner peace of this beautiful prayer was lost to the professional art of Ms. Norman. Marion Anderson was in the audience for this concert and the camera turned to her after the duet with Kathleen Battle(more like a contest than music) and Marian Anderson's expression was one of

"'what ARE you two doing?" The right spirit just wasn't there.For that- listen to Anderson's 1939 recording of Deep RIver

[SuiGenerisKingJames]

@georgiannanyman You have a bit of a point. The "style" or clothing choices of Ms. Norman are generally outlandish in sense. However, no one can sing like she can. What you call "expression" in Marion Anderson's voice is more of what I'd call an "empathetic tone". Because of our new "musical knowledge" obtained after that period ended, and because of personal preferences, voices are not the same as they used to be. Even more so though, Marian Anderson FULLY understood Deep River's cry to God.

[LimmieP]

@georgiannanyman What you call "overly dramatic" acting does not come across for the live audience. You are looking at a close-up via the camera, which is not what the live audience sees. Her performance was for the audience, not the cameras.

[georgiannanyman]

From the ornate gown to the  overly dramatic acting it seemed the utter simplicity and deep inner peace of this beautiful prayer was lost to the professional art of Ms. Norman. Marion Anderson was in the audience for this concert and the camera turned to her after the duet with Kathleen Battle(more like a contest than music) and Marian Anderson's expression was one of

"'what ARE you two doing?" The right spirit just wasn't there.For that- listen to Anderson's 1936 recording of Deep RIver

[LawdMyEyes]

That stirred my soul... I cried all over the place.

[mikedc2020]

Brava!

[ruybass]

Oh my god! She crosses over!!! Isn't?

[opus795]

Bewegend! -



[089786ms]

до слёз. очень сильно!

[nahashley]

Please can someone tell me who the arranger of this version is?

[wrmcchriston]

@nahashley Bureligh

[nahashley]

@wrmcchriston Thank you

[linbeiwuji1978]

Absolutelly awesome. This performance ranks right up there with

the one by Robeson. So touching. Just awesome.

[misaelsimoes]

beautiful

[MissLeosLee]

I remember my choir teacher showing me her singing other songs at this preformance...years ago...Simply a remarkable Job she did. what Emotion and Skill...Beautiful.

[prestonelite]

Amazing

[bemaniac2]

she reminds of an opera version of mahalia jackson

[joshuathemusician]

@bemaniac2

VERY fitting analogy.

[VocMusTcrMaloy]

I agree with vegantrooper. This song should be sung slowly. In my opinion, most of the spirituals contain a death wish and "Deep River" is a perfect example of my point. American slavery was probably one of darkest 250 years of history and the spirituals reflect the pain of that era. Well done Madame Norman.

[rickeylaurentiis]

@VocMusTcrMaloy 250 years? Closer to 500+ . . .

[svsuck]

been a Jessye JUNKIE for 25 years

[Tigerwarhawk]

My eyes watered up when I heard this. Absolutely beautiful!!!

[shantibel]

Thanks for the this from the divine Jessye. I agree - perfection!

[AFGRULZ26]

sorry but she sounds like a drag queen singing in gay barsss

[esl4500]

Her vocal range amazes me!

[blackmaestro]

Always a fan of both Jessye Norman & Evelyn Simpson Currenton. Didn't care for her use of mixtures @ 1:20. Felt that some of the registrations were pretty but not always clear & appropriate for discerning pitch while singing. Thanks 4 reposting this. Guess thats why organ registrations are a personal choice: the choice of the person seated at the console.

[blackmaestro]

Ms. Currenton begins using the mixtures @ 1:08.

[vegantrooper]

check out how she swallows the hard D of "ground" at the end of the song! it totally works, imho. so smooth.

[vegantrooper]

thank the powers-that\-be for Norman. so many singers don't have the artistic sensibility or the guts to sing this song as slow as it needs to be sung. there's something about it that puts the texture of the human voice on display more than anything. the voice becomes the subject instead of just the medium for expression.

[TheBfwal1]

@vegantrooper The words at the end of the day dictate the speed and colours to be used when singing this or any other song. The meaning of the words to the singer is what should drive all singing. Words first - voice second. For me, this is very slow - why? why do the words say it should be faster?

[SuiGenerisKingJames]

@vegantrooper your right, but honestly; many singers simply do not have the same diaphragmatic strength and sheer raw talent that she does. I'm not defending them, but honestly, if other singers tried this, they would inevitably fail. or at least, most of them :)

[rickeylaurentiis]

I truly think this is perfection.

[ElderPinkerton]

I saw this performance years ago and it was burned into my mind. She leaves me totally speachless and still when she performs. I'm just in awe of her beauty and talent. What a treasure.

[bemaniac2]

W.O.W! amazing

[fiercejarret]

All the songs aren't on the CD. You have to get the video/DVD.

[misskitty411]

How can I get a recording or all the songs performed this evening?

[JoeHolte]

Look up on amazon (dot) com Spirituals in Concert Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle.

[Gemini730]

Just beautiful-touches my soul.

Thank You for sharing with Us.

 Lorraine

[ariodante76]

OMG, her face at the very end!!! She lives her art!!!

[jaibright]

She is really talented and has a beautiful range..I love Jessye Norman