I've been asked by the chairperson of the choir I'm in to perform Dido's lament for our summer concert. It's a beautiful piece and I'd love to sing it. However, he wants me to perform it in the way that Alison Moyet does - a full octave below where it's written. I'm more than capable of singing the range, but am a little worried about it sounding very artificial sung that low. Alison Moyet might be able to get away with that, but I'm not sure Meerkat Kattus can do so!

As a compromise, I've thought of doing a reasonable transposition - maybe 2 or three notes down from its original key. I can sing the published 'low' version, which I think goes up to an E, but would probably be more comfortable taking the top note down to a C or D.

What do you think about both plans?

Hi Meerkat

Congratulations on being offered the chance to sing this aria. It's a stunner, although it isn't easy. The big drawback with it is that it isn't a standalone aria - it has a chorus at the end of it.

It all depends on whether the choir are going to sing "With Drooping Wing" at the end. If they're not, then you're totally free to choose whatever key you like.

BUT if they are going to sing the chorus, you have a big problem. The original's in G minor, with both the soloist and the subsequent soprano and tenor lines going up to a top G, and the alto and bass lines going down to a bottom G. These are, pretty much, the limits that you can ask a choir to sing, particularly if it's an amateur choir.

Moving away from G minor will give one or other pair of lines a major problem for range. If your top note's a C, so you're singing in C minor, either the altos will be below their limits or the sopranos will need step ladders!
In E minor (the other published version of the solo) you're still going to get resistance from the alto and bass chorus, as it will be below what they can reasonably be expected to sing.

There's no shame in saying that the work doesn't fit your range. Perhaps you could think of something more suitable to do as a standalone solo instead.

Sorry to be a killjoy

Katyjay

My top note's a bflat, but I'd be a bit worried about singing that in public! I can hit the G - just don't really want to, lol. (My teacher's working on my fear of high noises.... )

There wouldn't be a chorus - just the standalone. I think the issue is that the chair knows my range goes right down to the A near the edge of the bass range, and he's got a thing for the Alison Moyet version of the piece (which I think takes it down to the C two below middle C - comfortably in my range).

I definitely have other options to sing (I'd been working on So in Love for this concert, before he attacked me with this plan), but like you, I love this piece, and my chair is pretty fixated on the idea...

Ah, dilemmas dilemmas.

If you are doing it on its own, choose whatever key you like and sort it with the accompanist. It's really not the chairman's problem.

lol, i guess that's true. Although our chair tends to think everything is his problem...

I think I'll talk it over with my teacher when I next see her (anyone else hate missing lessons during the half term break? I fully appreciate my teacher's need for a well deserved break, but goodness, I miss it!)

I cannot imagine it being sung by a woman one octave lower than written! I would sing it in the original key or possibly a key or two lower, but no more. As you are singing it as a solo it is for you to make the choice. Stand firm! Good luck with it.

Its at times like these, that I tend to stick to my guns. Sing it the key you are most comfortable in and stick to it.

It works very well, if you accompanist plays "with drooping wings" as a playout. If they do that, I'd stick to the original key.

Remember at the end of the day you are the one who is going to sing the aria. Not the chairman.

You mean below the bass clef stave 2 ledger lines?!

Oh I get so confuzzled by this stuff Choddy. It's the C near the bottom of the tenor range, if that makes more sense? I am not a basso proffundo, lol!

I'd go for it in its original key. If you can do a Bb in your exercises, then a G should be easily within your grasp. Raise your eyebrows slightly before going for it, and know where you are going. If necessary sing Re-mahm-ber me, to ensure you have an open throat when singing the high note. And thin about incorporating "with drooping wings" it really does finish the song properly.

Incidentally, I've just listened to the Alison Moyet version. It definitely isn't an octave down. It's in B minor, I think.

And I must confess that I really don't like it that low at all. I'd sing it much nearer the original pitch if you can. Maybe your E minor published version is the answer.

I'm glad you said that, because I don't like it either - I find it artificial sounding - but everyone I know raves about it. I thought it was just me going a bit mad.

I'm now getting cold feet on the whole idea (sorry, I'm a fickle soul!), and thinking of just digging out the piece I was intending to do in the first place. So in Love - I know it's vastly different, but I've already learned it, and feel it's more within my capabilities right now. Maybe I could talk them into Dido's Lament for next year....

Thanks for giving me space to sound it all out.

J

For what it's worth, I just listened to a snippet of the Moyet version on Amazon and I think it's a bit artificial too.