Classical singers, what is a good "my first lieder' book for mezzos?
May 17, 2020 3:05 PM Subscribe
We're not sure when we'll get to be in choirs again, so I'd like a book to work through for possible audition pieces. I would prefer German as it's my best language, but I will take other suggestions for standards.
I sing in a couple classical choirs. This past year I did the Mozart and Verdi requiems and the Ode to Joy. I have always been a nervous auditioner and I don't have any solid German solo pieces, which I'd like to fix because German is my best language. The last audition I did, I used "Come raggio di sol" which was a warmup one of my choirs used.
I am a lowish mezzo and while I can sing above F5 I'd like to keep audition pieces no higher than that, because I get nervous above that. I've heard that the Schubert lieder, I think, are a good standard starting place but I would like specific book recs to work through on my own during the pandemic.
I am definitely interested in German recs mostly, but Italian or English standards I would also consider.
Thanks!
I sing in a couple classical choirs. This past year I did the Mozart and Verdi requiems and the Ode to Joy. I have always been a nervous auditioner and I don't have any solid German solo pieces, which I'd like to fix because German is my best language. The last audition I did, I used "Come raggio di sol" which was a warmup one of my choirs used.
I am a lowish mezzo and while I can sing above F5 I'd like to keep audition pieces no higher than that, because I get nervous above that. I've heard that the Schubert lieder, I think, are a good standard starting place but I would like specific book recs to work through on my own during the pandemic.
I am definitely interested in German recs mostly, but Italian or English standards I would also consider.
Thanks!
Ooh also Standard Vocal Literature has Der Tod und das Madchen which I really enjoyed. It's great for a lowish mezzo and is a really excellent short piece that can leave an awesome impression because it's super dramatic.
posted by donut_princess at 3:31 PM on May 17, 2020
posted by donut_princess at 3:31 PM on May 17, 2020
Response by poster: For that Brahms one, would I get the low voice as a mezzo?
posted by nakedmolerats at 3:40 PM on May 17, 2020
posted by nakedmolerats at 3:40 PM on May 17, 2020
Sorry, one more. Hal Leonard does have a Schubert 15 selections book. Just don't use Die Forelle as an audition piece. Auf dem Wasser zu singen is much better
posted by donut_princess at 3:40 PM on May 17, 2020
posted by donut_princess at 3:40 PM on May 17, 2020
And yes definitely get low voice for all of the above
posted by donut_princess at 3:41 PM on May 17, 2020
posted by donut_princess at 3:41 PM on May 17, 2020
Hi. Fellow low-ish mezzo here.
Schubert songs are amazing. Often their simplicity is deceptive: they're harder than they look because they're so exposed. Peters volume 1 has the two big cycles and a lot of good selected songs. Or, if you click "transpositions" on his IMSLP page, there are 2 older Peters volumes for low voice there.
Starter songs:
Lachen und Weinen - short, introspective
Die Forelle - the Trout! Bouncy, folky
An die Musik - honest and beautiful
Der Lindenbaum - from the Winterreise; each verse has a change of mood
Litanei - melancholy, meditative, serene. I sing it to come to terms with tragedy.
Brahms LOVES us low mezzos. He had a long working relationship with a baritone which means he wrote a lot of great songs for low voice. Schirmer 50 songs for low voice (has annoying, inaccurate English translations) or Peters Vol 1 für tiefe Stimme works great.
Starter songs:
Sonntag - medium tempo, cheerful
Sapphische Ode - slow, low, sexy
Wiegenlied - the Lullaby, long graceful phrases
Vergebliches Ständchen - comedy
Schumann: a lot of starter Lieder singers look at Frauenliebe und Leben as their first cycle. Again, Peters vol I has the goods. Apart from that cycle, have a look at Widmung and Du bist wie eine Blume.
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:56 PM on May 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
Schubert songs are amazing. Often their simplicity is deceptive: they're harder than they look because they're so exposed. Peters volume 1 has the two big cycles and a lot of good selected songs. Or, if you click "transpositions" on his IMSLP page, there are 2 older Peters volumes for low voice there.
Starter songs:
Lachen und Weinen - short, introspective
Die Forelle - the Trout! Bouncy, folky
An die Musik - honest and beautiful
Der Lindenbaum - from the Winterreise; each verse has a change of mood
Litanei - melancholy, meditative, serene. I sing it to come to terms with tragedy.
Brahms LOVES us low mezzos. He had a long working relationship with a baritone which means he wrote a lot of great songs for low voice. Schirmer 50 songs for low voice (has annoying, inaccurate English translations) or Peters Vol 1 für tiefe Stimme works great.
Starter songs:
Sonntag - medium tempo, cheerful
Sapphische Ode - slow, low, sexy
Wiegenlied - the Lullaby, long graceful phrases
Vergebliches Ständchen - comedy
Schumann: a lot of starter Lieder singers look at Frauenliebe und Leben as their first cycle. Again, Peters vol I has the goods. Apart from that cycle, have a look at Widmung and Du bist wie eine Blume.
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:56 PM on May 17, 2020 [3 favorites]
(I've got the Peters Schubert volume 1 in middle voice, and their Brahms volumes for low voice. It all depends on what suits you best.)
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:57 PM on May 17, 2020
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:57 PM on May 17, 2020
And for translations, the LiederNet archive is a great resource. There's also a book called Lieder Line By Line which is the standard for translations.
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:59 PM on May 17, 2020
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:59 PM on May 17, 2020
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The First Book of Mezzo Solos has some nice selections in English and German.
And Brahms 15 selections is a good place to start for beginning lieder.
posted by donut_princess at 3:27 PM on May 17, 2020