The Proof is in the Purcell

Since I spend most of my days composing and singing children's songs, many people find it really hard to believe that I have a background in classical music. My classical training began in the 6th grade, and I even remember my first song: "Caro Mio Ben" from the ever popular 24 Italian Songs & Arias. My college days were spent in practice rooms, trying to convince myself that I was an opera singer...and the truth is, I wasn't very successful in doing so. I know I wasn't meant to sing that kind of music forever, but hey, it's cool to think back to the days when I could pull it off!

So a few weeks ago I dusted off the recording of my college senior recital, and I thought it would be fun to share a song or two from it. Tonight's feature is Henry Purcell's "Music for a While". The song is super creepy, at least in my opinion...especially the words. But Purcell is one of my favorite composers, and I remember loving the fact that his songs were in English :)



Music for a while
Shall all your cares beguile:

Wond'ring how your pains were eas'd
And disdaining to be pleas'd

Till Alecto free the dead
From their eternal bands.

Till the snakes drop from her head,
And the whip from out her hands.

Talk about imagery. I had fun singing this back in the day, but I think it was even more fun to listen to my younger soprano self now that my musical inspiration comes from Laurie Berkner and Raffi! Oh how the times have changed.

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