Liederabend LXXXI

IT'S A GIRL!
All about Eve, Salome and Florence Nightingale

Last summer I found a pamphlet in my baby book that was given to my Dad, and I was amused by the many female stereotypes imposed on a little girl. The sentence that got me was “Who else can cause you more grief, joy, irritation, satisfaction, embarrassment, and genuine delight than this combination of Eve, Salome, and Florence Nightingale?” This evening explores songs and texts in English, German, French and Spanish, reflecting these stereotypes and others that challenge them. 

The Liederabend — literally, "evening of song" — dates back to the 1800s, when musicians and lovers of music would gather at someone's home, and one or more singers and a pianist would perform the songs of composers of the day. In the field of classical music, these songs are referred to as "art songs," and the German art songs are called "Lieder." In Germany, the great age of song came in the 19th century. German and Austrian composers had written music for voice with keyboard before this time, but it was with the flowering of German literature in the Classical and Romantic eras that composers found high inspiration in great poetry, sparking the genre known as the "Lied."

The tradition of the art song composition continues today, with composers from all corners of the world setting poetry in many languages, scored for voice and piano. The NEC Liederabend series presents songs in a variety of languages — not only German — dating from the 19th century up to the present day.

Tanya Blaich coached tonight's performers.