I think it is very charming that the refrain is first presented by a violin solo, As a song within the song. The song suits Piccaver well with his clear articulation of words.
But John McCormack´s version from 1928 is quite irresistible together with Edwin Schneider with a lovely sottovoce ending.
To saltburner2. Thanks for your considered comments. I take your point about the pitch. (Did you check against the piano or with a tuning fork?) To me it still seems a tad high to show Piccaver's voice at its best, but clearly he could sing it in this key.
Piccaver's voice, here, is beautiful as usual -, warm, emotional and with a manly, ringing top.
I have a few concerns, though. Firstly, I don't care for the arrangement and the key, which seems slightly too high for comfort (it would have sounded better sung a tone lower). Second, the word "flow'ring" (first time) has a bellowed quality and really should've been covered. Third, the words at the end of the song seem jumbled, somehow. I'm surprised the tenor passed this record for release.
I think it is very charming that the refrain is first presented by a violin solo, As a song within the song. The song suits Piccaver well with his clear articulation of words.
But John McCormack´s version from 1928 is quite irresistible together with Edwin Schneider with a lovely sottovoce ending.
klokheten 5 months ago
To saltburner2. Thanks for your considered comments. I take your point about the pitch. (Did you check against the piano or with a tuning fork?) To me it still seems a tad high to show Piccaver's voice at its best, but clearly he could sing it in this key.
giordani19 1 year ago
Piccaver's voice, here, is beautiful as usual -, warm, emotional and with a manly, ringing top.
I have a few concerns, though. Firstly, I don't care for the arrangement and the key, which seems slightly too high for comfort (it would have sounded better sung a tone lower). Second, the word "flow'ring" (first time) has a bellowed quality and really should've been covered. Third, the words at the end of the song seem jumbled, somehow. I'm surprised the tenor passed this record for release.
giordani19 2 years ago
@giordani19
This is pitched approximately in the key of D: and I have checked the original which is actually in D.
Tauber [1936] also recorded it in D, and McCormack [1928] in D flat.
If Tauber [with a shorter top] could sing it in D, I don't think this could be considered too high a key for Piccaver [1936].
saltburner2 1 year ago