questions on marian anderson?

Question

when marian song

Answer 1

WTF?

What is it you want to know?



However our friend Alberich has brought up a very interesting point about the voice that was so admired and exclaimed. When Marian Anderson was popular, so were big vibratos--just as there were periods of time where a virtually vibrato-less voice was considered ideal. . Add the fact that Anderson was a classically trained contralto--a voice type not widely heard in classical music any more. A lot of contralto music is sung these days by mezzo-sopranos whose timbres will be somewhat brighter than the darker "heavy-ish" tone of a true contralto even if the ranges of the two voice types may be similar. You even hear more countertenors singing "alto" parts than you do contraltos.



Even so--modern contraltos still tend to have less of a prominent vibrato than in Anderson's day.



Example--contemporary contralto Nathalie Stutzmann:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yq04mGvKl0



Compare the same aria sung by Marian Anderson (even taking in consideration the quality of sound recording at the time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14MwxfiPHVY



Here are two celebrated contraltos that were roughly contemporaries of Anderson's, also singing "Erbarme Dich"

Kathleen Ferrier:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh_1CKyZVSc



Eula Beal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIdNBgyC88o



This is British contralto Clara Butt (couldn't find the Bach, but this still will demonstrate a very fast and prominent vibrato):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX4fEC_zwck



It actually takes a lot of listens before we can get passed the "oddness" of these voices and appreciate why these singers were so highly thought of.



As a contrast, mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ6SxpwzhSU



And a countertenor Michael Chance (even though I can appreciate the artistry and beauty in his voice and interpretation--I still feel a bit disturbed by it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHbOOe8n2gY



Since I have no idea what it is you really want to know about Marian Anderson, I will also post these websites where you can read all about her:



http://www.mariananderson.org/

http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/rbm/anderson/

http://www.npr.org/artists/102980721/marian-anderson

Answer 2

Marian Anderson was finally allowed to sing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York at the age of 55.

She was born in 1902, first privately singing at a Baptist chapel as a child.

Once discovered, she toured internationally in the 1950's.

As Arturo Toscanini well put it, hers is "The voice that comes once in a hundred years"

Answer 3

Congratulations on posting the most perplexing question of the year, thus far.

Answer 4

I personally found her voice unappealing; her very individualistic 'vibrato' was not satisfying to my ear - actually, 'disturbing'.



Alberich