Recently, I came across the recording of the joint faculty voice recital that I did with my colleague and friend Amy Haines. The year was 2004. She sang Ned Rorem (definitely doing the heavy lifting of the evening) while I did all ten of the Old American Songs of Aaron Copland. This is the first song, “The Boatman’s Dance” – and it’s one of the hardest of the songs. I vividly remember the very first faculty voice recital I saw at Luther, back in the fall of 1978 when I was a freshman. David Judisch (who was my advisor) sang a really exciting recital, which included this song- and I remember thinking that it was SO much harder than anything I had ever attempted to sing myself … especially because it was so darned high! Nowadays, these Copland songs are available in more than one key, but not back then- and this song was incredibly tricky and taxing for any baritone because of its relentless tessitura, and also because it demanded a wide range of dynamics. Anyway, I gave it my best shot! (Carol Wallace is at the piano, by the way- and I enjoyed this rare chance to collaborate with her.)
Boatman Dance (Aaron Copland)
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Oh! My! Gosh! You still sit on your foot and play piano! Some things never change!
A LOT of things never change with me!