Richard Tauber - Ich grolle nicht

My favorite recording of this famous Lied. Recorded in 1919 as far as I know.

Notice the slow tempo. Schumann wrote: "Nicht zu schnell", which means: "Not too fast".

John Stean wrote in his book "The Grand Tradition" that recordings of this Lied became faster and faster over the decades. Because "Nicht zu schnell" is not a very precise tempo, singers often tend to think: "Not too fast, well of course not." and then sing it as fast as they want to.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Richard
• Tauber
• Schumann
• Dichterliebe
• Ich
• grolle
• nicht

[1401JSC]

Quantz was one of the first modern composers to write of the connexion between our own heartbeat pulse and the meaning of Adagio ( =40 as a guideline), andante (=80 - an average and normal heart pulse - as a guideline), allegro (=120 as a guideline) and presto (=160 as a guideline).

Thomas Morley (renaissance composer) also wrote about pulsation and rhythm.

[saiserieht]

@1401JSC The frequency of our footsteps is also surprisingly constant from one individual to the next, independent from how tall the person is. So heartbeat is not the only "pulse" there is in nature. Why do you think it says "andante"? Also lets stop this discussion, the heart does not beat regularly, especially when emotions play a role, you are essentially contradicting yourself.

[georgchub]

Идеально!!! Супер!!!

[atomicmrpelly]

The way the accompanist holds up the end of each bar to wait for the singer reminds me of the way Florence Foster Jenkins used to be accompanied.

[StrikerDaSkimboarder]

@robincla Ja, darüber. wenn er sagt, wie traurig und unglücklich du bist, war er zu sagen, wie er nicht ertragen konnte, mit ihr zu sein, denn sie war wirklich nur ein elender Mensch. Ich studiere das Stück in meinem Musiktheorie Klasse, und seine so offensichtlich, wie er sich fühlte all diese Gefühle. Er war nur mit, was ist, in Englisch, als "irony".

[Musikcamp]

@Schamschi

Grolle nicht Schumann, "not too fast" means IMHO: sing it as fast as you feel it and then try slowing down a little.

;-)

It's never a military order but a suggestion for maximum effect made by own experience while performing the piece.

[goodboybuddy1]

Thanks for posting this amazing performance. I was working on the song today, and this has given me a new and welcome perspective. The slower tempo makes the song almost scary. I like it. Heine was a poet of many colors and moods, but I must say that all the old Germans I have studied with emphasized his love of humor and irony(for what it's worth). Thanks again!

[LeonFleisherFan]

@robincla Sorry, but it's really too obvious that the speaker/poet in this song (and for that matter, the whole song cycle) is alternatively angry at (and sentimental about) his beloved, that is, that he DOES bear grudges. No idea how you could interpret this otherwise...

[LeonFleisherFan]

@robincla In other words, does you emotional repertoire dictate that you are sore and resentful, possibly shout and scream when you "bear no grudges"?

[LeonFleisherFan]

@robincla You should learn to read the text and other people's replies before you answer. Irony is a way of saying what one does not think, or not think what one says. The very first line says it all, as the text reads: "Ich grolle nicht" (I bear no grudge). If you say the text is meant to be taken literal (and thanks for call my emotional repertoire limited - what does that make you?), you therefore claim the speaker/poet bears no grudge? Think again!

[robincla]

@LeonFleisherFan There is no "wrath" in this song, neither in the words nor in the music. It is just your limited emotional repertiore at work there. There is no irony. The words mean exactly what they say, and make the "ironic" "interpretation" absurd as the climatic (supposedly most angry) words are "I saw my dear how truly miserable you are" Those are words of empathy, which are impossible to say with anger/hate etc. Write your own song of nasty feelings please.

[Cantormatis]

@1401JSC He does take quite a bit of time in some phrases, perhaps more than we are used to, or even like. Nevertheless, Tauber was NOT one for silly affectations or cheap musical effects. Tauber was too musical and too smart for that.