Excellent point, Smokey. Singing while holding to the A=415 standard would certainly be more authentic for most older songs. And the effect might be quite interesting if one kept one's guitar tuned to A=440. . . .

'Course, I have heard some folks who seem to have mastered that.

###

On "Classic Arts Showcase" on cable television a few weeks ago, I watched and heard a clip from a concert by the late, great Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone, George London. George London was the first American opera singer to be invited to the Bayreuth Wagner festival in Germany to sing the role of Wotan in all four operas in The Ring of the Nibelungen. He was also the first American to be invited to Russia to sing the leading role in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov. Bloody brilliant singer and considered by many knowledgeable people to be one of the greatest singers of all time.

On "Classic Arts Showcase," George London including in his recital a rendition of "Lord Randal." That magnificent voice, deep and rich, like dark chocolate, rumbled and reverberated through the concert hall.

But he gave the ballad the full operatic treatment, gasping and chest-clutching, much as he had sung, quite appropriately, the death scene in the final act of Boris Godunov.

It was bloody GAWDAWFUL!!!

Don Firth