J. S. Bach: Agnus Dei (Mass in B minor)

J. S. Bach: Agnus Dei (Mass in B minor)

In my mind, J. S. Bach is the greatest composer who ever lived. I know that he never wrote an opera, but my first musical love was choral music, and by extension, sacred music. Even removed from the specific religious context it was written for, there is something...
Mahler: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

Mahler: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

The only other “art song” on the list this week, Mahler’s “Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen” from Rückert Lieder is another song that always brings me to tears. This is especially true when sung by the peerless Dame Janet Baker (though Dieskau or Anne Sofie von...
Jerry Herman: If he walked into my life

Jerry Herman: If he walked into my life

I chose this song both because it’s a wonderful song from a great show, but also to highlight Jerry Herman and Marin Mazzie, two giants who each died in the last few years. I feel that even though Jerry Herman won two Tony awards, he may be somewhat overlooked as a...
Richard Strauss: Morgen!

Richard Strauss: Morgen!

I wasn’t sure how to start this week of posts, so I decided to begin with my favorite Lied sung by probably my favorite Lieder singer. Is it cliché to share a recording of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore? Probably. Do I care? No!  It’s hard to put into...
Malamini Jobarteh and Dembo Konte: Cheddo

Malamini Jobarteh and Dembo Konte: Cheddo

When does a song stop being a song? And now we are here at the end of the week and the final installment of this series of posts I was asked to write for No Song Is Safe From Us. To paraphrase Frank Loesser, it’s been a long week, but I’ve really enjoyed writing...