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Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: JHW Date: 11 Apr 14 - 04:38 PM " I had to make up some words, no one noticed, in my opinion to some extent that is what performing is about," I couldn't agree more. Me too - is it time for a thread 'Agreeing with GSS' |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Janie Date: 11 Apr 14 - 04:30 PM Well said, Stringsinger and Garg, in your footnote. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Jack Campin Date: 11 Apr 14 - 04:10 PM Maddy Prior and band, 2003 That one is surprising. Surely, like me, she'd have half-known it years before getting the gig. It wouldn't have taken me long to learn it properly. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST,MikeL2 Date: 11 Apr 14 - 02:33 PM Hi There is a difference between using a crib sheet just in case you forget something, than bringing a song sheet because you couldn't be bothered to learn the song. But I would listen to Sarah Vaughn whatever way she decided to perform!!!! Cheers MikeL2 |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link Date: 11 Apr 14 - 02:28 PM I suppose that if you attend sessions where you have lots of performers who don't need music/words at all, you can afford to be picky about who you allow to participate. the rest of us can find a singaround or open mic that is only to happy to accommodate the less confidant. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST,MikeL2 Date: 11 Apr 14 - 02:28 PM Hi GSS <" I had to make up some words, no one noticed, in my opinion to some extent that is what performing is about,"> I couldn't agree more. I had to do that sometimes but managed to keep up my performance. On one occasion I actually forgot the tune of the song I had introduced. I just sang the words to a tune I made up as I went along. All performers whether professional or not make mistakes. But the best ones make only a few and know how to cover them up. Cheers MikeL2 |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: BrendanB Date: 11 Apr 14 - 10:53 AM I sing in a folk choir and we have a rule - learn your part and no crib sheets in performance. I greatly approve of this because I think it helps us to improve communication with the audience. The group that I sing/play with has the same rule for the same reason. However, I see no problem with a performer using a crib if it helps them to turn in a good, entertaining performance. I avoid sessions where players depend on books, folders etc. They screw spontaneity. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: meself Date: 11 Apr 14 - 10:01 AM 'a "jam session" (where crib sheets are very welcome)' When I come to a session and see binders and sheets, my heart sinks - because I know that half the evening will be spent watching people shuffling through papers looking for something that they 'know is in there' - and the other half will be spent listening to them bumble through the first verses of old pop songs, before they give up - only to start looking for one they 'really know'. On the other hand, if I arrive to find no sign of sheets or digital devices, my heart soars - because I know it will be a good session. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: The Sandman Date: 11 Apr 14 - 05:58 AM we had a trad festival here in BALLYDEHOB last week,although during the course of the festival i had one paid gig. I did some impromptu singing just for fun During a tunes session, i decided to sing one song, so i was in the position of floor singer, I sang Bushes and Briars, and in one verse I had to make up some words, no one noticed, in my opinion to some extent that is what performing is about, I kept my cool and ad libbed remembering the gist of the song and fitting the words to the meter. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: JHW Date: 11 Apr 14 - 05:38 AM Choirs maybe but they have masses of material to contend with, not individual repertoire. Last time I saw 'Messiah' three of the imported soloists read from their score. The Alto never opened her copy and was way way ahead of the others in her performance. Singing songs you don't know is another nail in the coffin of folk clubs. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST Date: 11 Apr 14 - 05:27 AM Performing from sheet music or a songbook is a skill that has to be learned. The fact that professionals learn this skill isn't an excuse for those who haven't to sing to a piece of paper rather than their audience. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 10 Apr 14 - 08:54 PM Jack you don't know ....J about S..... It has been my opportunity to attend "readings,walk-throughs,cold calls, that would place an insecure performer in a tail-spin if published. Focus on Ms. B's performance. Sincerely, Gargoyle "Criticizing people is unhealthy for the critic. He develops such a keen scent that amid a thousand excellences of any program, he looks to one solitary defect and holds it up to mockery. He becomes a scavenger. (GIL HAMBERT) |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Doug Chadwick Date: 10 Apr 14 - 02:14 PM A 'crib' sheet suggests something to be referred to occasionally during the song, perhaps to note which verse comes next or similar. Joan did not seem to engage with her audience at all, her eyes looking down, reading from the sheet throughout the song. Also, she committed the sin of arriving on stage with her guitar out of tune, having to make several adjustments before she was ready to go. Still, it was a beautiful song, well sung and I thoroughly enjoyed it, song sheet or not. Just one question, why is it that song sheets are such a no-no in folk music when classical choirs would never been seen dead without each choir member holding a large book of words/music, even if they were singing "Happy Birthday to You"? |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Deckman Date: 10 Apr 14 - 12:28 PM About two years ago I attended a house concert in the Seattle area given by a well known male trio. During the set-up, they ran an extension cord to a music stand and plugged in a lap top computer. During the first half of the concert they almost did each other bodily harm as they stumbled, reached, blocked each other and squinted to read the words from the computer. After the first two minutes it was no longer funny. Half the audience left at the intermission. I left with them. I think it's important to state the difference between a "jam session" (where crib sheets are very welcome) and a "concert" where folks pay good money to see a "performance." bob(deckman)nelson |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Stringsinger Date: 10 Apr 14 - 12:25 PM I have heard "singers" perform from memory, as opposed to those who used "cheat" sheets, preferring to hear a good performer who "cheats" over one who has an eidetic memory for words but is boring to sit through. A rigid approach to folk singing is counter-productive. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Nick Date: 10 Apr 14 - 09:24 AM Also saw Steve Knightley on Friday who got out a song sheet for a recently written song 'just in case he forgot it'. He didn't. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Nick Date: 10 Apr 14 - 09:24 AM Also saw Steve Knightley on Friday who got out a song sheet for a recently written song 'just in case he forgot it'. He didn't. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: RTim Date: 10 Apr 14 - 09:02 AM I have seen video of both Luciano Pavarotti and Richard Thompson sing from words, so if occasionally it is good enough for them, occasionally it is good enough for me - and I only use verse first lines as a back up. Tim Radford |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST Date: 10 Apr 14 - 08:09 AM Like it or not, the world's most famous arena touring singers, have been discretely using on stage autocue screens scrolling their song lyrics in real time with the live band's performance [conveniently located front of stage amongst sound monitors] for at least the last 20 years.... This is an accepted vital part of on stage touring equipment. One major British artist openly admits he depends on this technological aide memoire, as his memory for his own extensive back catalog of self written complexly poetic lyrics is failing with advancing old age. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST,OldNicKilby Date: 10 Apr 14 - 07:53 AM What is just as bad if not worse is the dreaded Palm Top that scroll's at the speed of the "Singer". Best solution I ever saw was at a Morris do when a "Singer " had their crib sheet torched. After that the books seemed to disappear |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Dave Sutherland Date: 10 Apr 14 - 07:25 AM What Will said. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: johncharles Date: 10 Apr 14 - 07:01 AM The could be a whole new scene, Karaoke Folky with backing tracks and a little bouncing ball to indicate when the words should be sung. john |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST,Grishka Date: 10 Apr 14 - 06:33 AM A "sheet taboo" can have two distinct motives:
(Computer monitors hidden behind a column or other equipment can serve as prompters nowadays, replacing the good old cue cards.) |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Will Fly Date: 10 Apr 14 - 06:10 AM I don't care two hoots what famous people do. When I'm in a folk club watching a floor singer who will probably perform, at most, two songs during the whole evening, I don't expect to see them using a prop. Each to his own. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Nick Date: 10 Apr 14 - 05:43 AM I have a live Sarah Vaughan album where the guy who introduces her specifically states at the beginning that she will be reading the words that she is singing. I think she counts as a good singer. It was at the height of her powers and she was singing in English not a foreign language |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST,Derek Schofield Date: 10 Apr 14 - 05:23 AM In England, the Copper family have long used the song book to sing from, but I think this is more a case of emphasising the importance of the song book in family history - they usually seem to know the words well enough. Roy Bailey relies on song words now, as does Norma Waterson on occasions. Both of these singers are excellent communicators with their audiences and the song books do not get in the way of that communication. I've also seen singers who rely on the words who sing with their head stuck in the book, not looking up and not communicating. Sad. Derek |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: G-Force Date: 10 Apr 14 - 05:00 AM I believe this is now normal practice for Van Morrison. Not that it bothers me. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Jack Campin Date: 10 Apr 14 - 04:13 AM Jack - How many songs do YOU sing in another language ? (Without a crib sheet) Two that I can think of right now - one in Turkish (where I do know what every word means) and one in Basque (where I know the gist but it's basically by rote). Both rather shorter than "Marinella", though. |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Joe Offer Date: 10 Apr 14 - 04:04 AM Merritt Herring, a legendary traditional singer on the West Coast of the U.S., sang from a binder of lyrics in his last years. I believe he took pride in singing from memory in his younger years, but he used his home-made songbook when I knew him. I'd pay a lot for a copy of that binder. Every song he sang was a gem. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Seamus Kennedy Date: 10 Apr 14 - 03:56 AM John McCormack the celebrated Irish tenor usually sang from a little songbook, as in this clip from "Wings Of The Morning". here And I believe he was a professional..... |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST Date: 09 Apr 14 - 09:50 PM Jack - How many songs do YOU sing in another language ? (Without a crib sheet) |
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Subject: RE: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: GUEST,Don Firth Date: 09 Apr 14 - 09:19 PM Something a professional would never do--except--under special circumstances, such as singing a song in a language foreign to them for a special event. A professional does not, in general, use cheat sheets. One owes it to the audience, save on these rare special occasions, to learn the song. Don Firth |
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Subject: Celebrated Singers Using Songsheets From: Jack Campin Date: 09 Apr 14 - 08:19 PM A thread to post links to full-on professional singers doing what some folks here claim a professional would never do. To start, Joan Baez on Italian TV |
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