an embarrassing mistake

Posted on June 21, 2004 by vhk10

Singing the Kodály Missa Brevis again reminds me of what happened on the only other occasion I performed this piece. Kodály is admirably uninhibited about using the top end of the sopranos’ range and the score is sprinkled with top A’s and above. I had recently joined the Cambridge Chamber Group and we did the Mass on little rehearsal, I think because most people had recently sung it in a concert. At any rate I knew the work less well than everyone else and in those days I was not so conscientious about learning notes. On one of the most exposed high bits I found myself a semitone out from the others. I still shudder inwardly at the recollection of this, but it’s taken until now for me to have an opportunity to perform the passage correctly!
In an odd sort of way the Missa Brevis reminds me in parts of Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G minor. For example, the setting of the words ‘Glorificamus te’ in the Gloria. Perhaps it’s what comes of noodling around with folk-song.

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3 Responses to an embarrassing mistake

  1. AngloBaptist says:
    June 21, 2004 at 2:30 pm

    This is why being a bass is often easier on the ego. Well, except for those pesky entrances. Nothing worse for a bass than coming in before one is supposed to.

    My university director would shout things like “The white is the paper. The black is the notes. Now sing! Is it so hard to count to eight with everyone else?”

    He was a funny guy.

    Reply
  2. David Johnson says:
    June 22, 2004 at 12:43 am

    Hi Virginia: The Kodaly ‘Missa Bevis’ is actually on the table before me now, and we’ll sing it at one of the Priory Voices cathedral weekends next year – so keep on learning the notes!! David.

    Reply
  3. Mike Donovan says:
    March 9, 2005 at 1:35 pm

    Yes, it’s tough in sopranos and other parts as well, but has a fabulous resonance in some sections which take me to the churches in Budapest, Prague and Bratislava. We’re performing Missa Brevis in Haverfordwest on 20th March in Haverforwest (St Martins Church)

    Reply

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