Lawrence Tibbett, the great Baritone from Bakersfield, California, was the dominant Baritone on the US Opera scene of the 1930s. While his singing was perhaps not as refined and smooth as that of some of his European colleagues, he excels in emotional expression and dramatic delivery.
Even more importantly, he was the creator at the NY Metropolitan Opera and other US Theaters of major modern works, from the US premieres of Ravel's "L'Heure Espagnole" and Krenek's "Jonny spielt auf", to Deems Taylor's "The King's Henchman" and "Peter Ibbetson", Gruenberg's "Emperor Jones".
On this 1932 record Tibbett with pianist Stewart Wille gives a gripping account of Carl Loewe's Op 1.1, "Edward", a Scottish Murder Ballad. Unrestrained by any European Lied tradition, Tibbett employs expressive devices, from Verismo shouting to a carbon copy of Chaliapin's Boris Godunoff. Such a performance would not be permitted today.
The often neglected German composer Johann Carl Gottfried Loewe (30 November 1796 20 April 1869) was the creator of the German Ballad. Contempory of Franz Schubert, he was called the "Schubert of the German North." His rich output of over 400 narrative ballads draws from English and Scottish ballads, popular at the time, to the narrative works of Goethe (Erlkoenig, Sorcerer's Apprentice), Herder and Theodor Fontane.
One of Loewes strengths as a composer was his daring and imaginative accompaniments which were often complex and atmospherically appropriate to the text of the poem.
Hugo Wolf highly appreciated Loewe and was influenced by him on his own Lied and ballad settings.
From
EDWARD
========
collected by Francis James Child as Child ballad number 13
(the German version by Johann Gottfried Herder, here in English)
13B.1WHY dois your sword sae drap wi bluid,
Edward, Edward,
Why dois your sword sae drap wi bluid,
And why sae sad gang yee O?
O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
And I had nae mair bot hee O.
13B.2Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
Edward, Edward,
Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
My deir son I tell thee O.
O I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
That erst was sae fair and frie O.
13B.3Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Edward, Edward,
Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Sum other dule ye drie O.
O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Alas, and wae is mee O!
13B.4And whatten penance wul ye drie, for that,
Edward, Edward?
And whatten penance will ye drie for that?
My deir son, now tell me O.
Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
Mither, mither,
Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
And Ile fare ovir the sea O.
13B.5And what wul ye doe wi your towirs and your ha,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye doe wi your towirs and your ha,
That were sae fair to see O?
Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa,
Mither, mither,
Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa,
For here nevir mair maun I bee O.
13B.6And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Whan ye gang ovir the sea O?
The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,
Mither, mither,
The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,
For thame nevir mair wul I see O.
13B.7And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir?
My deir son, now tell me O.
The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Mither, mither,
The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Sic counseils ye gave to me O.
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4:49Christoph Prégardien • Edwardby esiulanirahtak2,721 views
134 videos
This is such a great song, and one that shows tibbetts extraordinary interpretive skills. None could bring such dramatic intensity to a song as he. His unequalled artistic insight coupled with extraordinary vocal endowment and technical ability make him an absolute giant the likes of whom, the world , sadly, will never see again.
operalament 2 years ago
Yep, I selected this song because the interpretation is so outrageous. Only a Verismo singer outside of the German Lied tradition could do it. Kurt Moll certainly would tone it down. I have to post some of his Creator recordings from Merry Mount and King's Henchman.
THanks for the comment.
sanfranphono 2 years ago