You all can ignore this post if you like. I'm just having a tiny pity-party here.

My training is classical, my instrument was piano, and I accompanied singers and students of singers. I hate a badly executed classical-singing sound even worse than the rest of you. I love it when it is done correctly, but my idea of correct might be different than that of the singing teachers whose students I used to play piano for.

I'm feeling sorry for me wee self today because:
I just discovered the recordings of Mary Anne Gabriel Scully, better known as Máire Ní Scolaí, and this is an exceptional discovery. The contralto voice, first of all, is a gift from God, I mean hers is. She got the right teacher, secondly, who got her to use her voice in the way that would keep her voice intact, effective, and strong for the maximum amount of time -- and, believe me, as an accompanist, I have heard far too many singing students who fell into the hands of teachers who fail to teach that much correctly.

And who is around to appreciate my discovery? Really, I want to play these recordings for anybody who would listen....only to hear "God I hate it when the lady sings that way."

I'll probably have to keep my happiness to myself instead. Okay, I'm done.