Concerts on the Slope (8/26/18)

Songs for Our Children
Jin-Xiang Yu, soprano; Lucas Barkley, piano


~Children’s Poetry~
I Hate Music! – A Cycle of Five Kid Songs – L. Bernstein (1918–1990)
Der Sandmann, Op. 79 Liederalbum für die Jugend No. 12 – R. Schumann (1810–1856)
La courte paille – F. Poulenc (1899–1963)

~Lullabies~
Da unten im Tale, WoO 33 49 Deutsche Volklieder No. 6 – J. Brahms (1833–1897)
Wiegenlied, Op. 105/D. 867 Vier Lieder No. 2 – F. Schubert (1797–1828)
Meinem Kinde, Op. 37 Sechs Lieder No. 3 – R. Strauss (1864–1949)
Wiegenliedchen, Op. 49 Acht Lieder No. 3 – R. Strauss
Aludj, aludj, Op. Post. 3 Songs on Poems by Béla Bálazs No. 3 – Z. Kodály (1882–1967)
Leise, leise weht ihr Lüfte, Op. 97 Vier Lieder No. 2 – M. Reger (1873–1916)
Schwallbenmütterlein, Op. 142 Fünf neue Kinderlieder No. 2 – M. Reger
Kindeslächeln, Op. 76 Schlichte Weisen No. 27 – M. Reger
Die ihr schwebet, Spanisches Liederbuch: Geistliche Lieder No. 4 – H. Wolf (1860–1903)
Margretes Vuggesang, Op. 15 Romanser No. 1 – E. Grieg (1843–1907)

~Songs for Our Children~
Chants de Terre et Ciel – O. Messiaen (1908–1992)

What a difference a day makes—a classical collection compared to a Sinatra collection. Clocking in at fourteen selections, three of which have multiple movements, I will definitely not be commenting on each individual song. I do, however, want to add a little back story for the Bernstein. Apparently, “I hate music” was a phrase used by one of his roommates who got tired of hearing some of the same phrases and pieces over and over as Bernstein was coaching singers. The song cycle was written in 1943. I liked all five of the songs, although the text for the centerpiece, I Hate Music, got a little bit lost in the reverb in the church sanctuary where the concert took place. That happened a few more times during the afternoon, usually when the lyrics were rapid and the piano accompaniment was rapid as well.

The alternating vocal and piano phrases of Schumann’s Sandmann were very pleasant. This one got a + in my written notes. Two of the slower movements of the Poulenc were also quite good and effective. My note for the seventh (and final) movement was one word—lovely.

The Brahms lullaby was not the famous one. All of the lullabies were interesting to some degree but hearing ten lullabies in a row was a little too much for me. As announced by Ms. Yu, she could not find a score for the Kodaly, so she transcribed it from a recording. It was a nice, gentle setting.

The Messiaen was six movements of modern and esoteric music. There were some pretty sounds but also some weird sounds. Messiaen is somewhat of an acquired taste and one that I don’t quite have. Indeed, I footnoted the third movement as ‘least favorite’ only to end up footnoting the fifth movement as ‘new least favorite’—not quite a ringing endorsement.

I’m certainly glad I attended and I’ll most likely go back for additional Concerts on the Slope. And the songs for children program was quite fitting since Ms. Yu was obviously pregnant. Her child will definitely hear some beautiful music when trying to be lulled into slumber. Additionally, we were told that the artistic director of the organization, Benjamin Larsen, might need to leave the concert suddenly, as his wife was in labor for the birth of their first child.

ConcertMeister