Singing the Kodály Missa Brevis<\/i> 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!
\nIn an odd sort of way the Missa Brevis<\/i> 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading