"summertime" Options

[DaisyChain]

Hello
I have always liked this song from Porgy and Bess. I am thinking of what to do for Stalybridge. I "sing" this to myself anyway, so wondered if, with some help from my tutor, I would be able to achieve singing it in July.

What do you think? Is it too ambitious for a Gde 1 (hopefully!!) singer? All comments/advice welcome.

Thank you.

[jod]

It's tricky DC, but all depends on your voice. You can always transpose it to fit. Buy it on line and the Scorch editor will do all that bit for you!

Until I hear you I don't know!

[country girl]

If you enjoy it then it's likely you'll sing it well....it is tricky though...and depends what your top notes are like... Trinity have it as a Grade 6. Yes you could transpose it but it might lose its dreamy,soaring character. Have a go.

[Miss Ross]

You have good taste DC! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

I'm hoping to sing it for AH Music this year, and that makes it around the Grade 5/6 level - but if you like it, why not go for it? Good luck, we'll have to compare notes on it if you decide to look at it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[petrat]

Sorry to add my bit Daisy, but it isn't an easy song to sing well, and it is high! I hate hearing it sung lower than the original and I think that certain songs should never be transposed. Operatic arias, numbers from musicals and oratorio stuff never should. Why not go for some Schubert or an accompanied folk song? The Last Rose of Summer would suit your voice well. The best guide is your teacher of course. See what he thinks. Jolly well done for singing at Leeds by the way. You were very brave and you pulled it off well.

[DaisyChain]

The Last Rose of Summer would suit your voice well. The best guide is your teacher of course. See what he thinks. Jolly well done for singing at Leeds by the way. You were very brave and you pulled it off well.

Thanks everyone...I just thought with time limits, I would go with something I'm familiar with. I don't know if I know the Last Rose of Summer, though I may know it if I heard it!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Thanks for your comments re Leeds!! xx

Will have a word with my tutor and see what he thinks.

Good luck to you too, Fiona! xx

[TSax]

As someone who's completely ignorant of the technical demands of singing - what is it that makes Summertime difficult?

It's a beautiful tune, one I love to play and it isn't particularly difficult on sax, the chord progression is a variation on a minor blues, so nothing difficult in there. The backing track version I have is in concert D minor and when I play it on tenor I may choose to play it as written or down an octave (i.e. as written for tenor sax). I'm happy with the sound of either, and it's quite nice having the freedom to switch between octaves. There's obviously something that makes it more demanding vocally, so I'm curious to find out what it is.

[sarah-flute]

As someone who's completely ignorant of the technical demands of singing - what is it that makes Summertime difficult?

I don't know about anything else, but the original is HIGH.

[petrat]

Summertime is difficult because it stays around the top end of the singer's range and calls for some very well controlled singing up there, softly which takes loads of support . It needs to be sung in the right style too with some gentle glissandi and some very subtle back phrasing here and there. Also some of the phrases should be sung without breaks for the singer to take in great gasps of air! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I have heard some performances ruined by poor phrasing and lack of breath control.

[TSax]

As someone who's completely ignorant of the technical demands of singing - what is it that makes Summertime difficult?

I don't know about anything else, but the original is HIGH.

OK. I doubt the jazz singers versions I listen to are in the original key then.

[skylark]

Hi petal (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wave.gif) Can I throw in my two penn'th worth .... You did brilliantly at Leeds - I was really proud of you because I know you weren't originally going to sing on your own, but when St George and I dropped out after the first verse of Moon River and you started singing the second verse on your own ... well I don't know what it sounded like to the audience but on stage it sounded really special .... Which is why it would be such a shame to follow that triumph with a song that risks you not being able to do yourself justice. It's like me wanting to perform Moonlight Serenade or something... I keep trying it at home because I've got an arranged version and I can play all the right notes in the right order now (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) but it really wouldn't be a good idea for me to perform it in public, not for a long time yet. Singing a difficult song, and risking not being able to pull it off triumphantly, could knock your confidence and that's the last thing you want.

But don't take any notice of me luvvy, I'm just a lowly student who wants you to do well. But your other best friend is a singing teacher and she knows what she's talking about! Is there anything from the Grade 2 list that you could make a start on? Santa Lucia's lovely, not that I want to sway you or anything (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

But do whatever your teacher says! Like wot I do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[DaisyChain]

Hi petal (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wave.gif) Can I throw in my two penn'th worth .... You did brilliantly at Leeds - I was really proud of you because I know you weren't originally going to sing on your own, but when St George and I dropped out after the first verse of Moon River and you started singing the second verse on your own ... well I don't know what it sounded like to the audience but on stage it sounded really special .... Santa Lucia's lovely, not that I want to sway you or anything (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

But do whatever your teacher says! Like wot I do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

What lovely comments...thank you..**Dabs eyes with tissue** To me it sounded a bit odd with my ear as it is at the moment, but I think I hit most of the notes in tune!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

OK...I will just have to sing Summertime in the bath for a bit longer!!!! Yes, Santa Lucia is lovely, and I will think about this one.

I don't believe for a minute you do what your teacher suggests, Skyers!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Thanks again everyone XX

[skylark]

I don't believe for a minute you do what your teacher suggests, Skyers!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I'm doing it right now - melodic minors (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Look forward to hearing whatever you decide upon at Stalybridge (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[DaisyChain]

I don't believe for a minute you do what your teacher suggests, Skyers!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I'm doing it right now - melodic minors (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Look forward to hearing whatever you decide upon at Stalybridge (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The new contenders (so far!!) are Edelweiss and Santa Lucia... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[skylark]

The new contenders (so far!!) are Edelweiss and Santa Lucia... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Only do Edelweiss if the sound of me blubbing won't put you off (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)