Today I discovered that when I'm singing in my house I can be heard in the middle of the street...and all the way to the neighbor's driveway (and there's an orchard separating us). This also means that I was "listening" (ie singing along with) Christmas at Carnegie Hall with Kathleen Battle and Frederica von Stade. Back when M and I used to live in the same state, we would spend hours singing along to this concert. Usually until we had both nearly lost our speaking voices.
This is usually the only time that I can ever sing several notes above high C. Or rather it's the only time I ever try to. (M- any guess as to how high that actually is? I don't have perfect pitch and neither does my piano). Sometimes my teeth rattle when I sing that high. Or my ears ring like they're going to burst. Though I've never accomplished what M did our Sophomore year: she actually sang loud and high enough to make a plate rattle. I'm waiting for the day she or I can make the plate break.
Anyway. For your listening enjoyment, here's one of our favorite pieces from the Carnegie Hall Christmas concert. The high notes on the First Noel and O Holy Night are especially great.
3 comments:
I have to admit, that plate rattle was one of the high points of my life (pun intended!). That moment will only be replaced when I actually break the plate (if that ever happens). You might have to break it for the both of us.
As for the high note, I've always thought in my head that it's a high B (two octaves above middle C) or the D above that. I'd have to check and see, though. You've piqued my curiosity.
Yay for Frederica and Kathleen! And yay that your voice carries across the orchard!
Also, I've been watching the clip. Kathleen has a lot of strange vowel shape-age when she sings "O Holy Night," especially on "o." It looks like she might have some tension in her jaw/lips.
Gasp! Does that mean this singing diva isn't totally perfect? I can't even fathom such a thing.
HA! I made T-rav watch Kathleen's strange vowel formations over and over. She kind of looks like she's chewing her words. Or devouring them.
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