A word about the Russian Basses: These men are trained so they can sing extremely low pitches. If Daad was unable to attend a choir rehearsal at UUBN or a Civic Chorale rehearsal, I would often say he decided to go into the hospital to have work done on his vocal chords so he could sing like a Russian bass!!!
The Rachmaninoff Vespers which we sang in Civic Chorale years ago, was a musical high light for us. Phyllis Parr with her gorgeous voice sang the alto solo, however she had awful flu. I remember holding her up on one side and another person supported her on the other. She was brilliant.
And my encounter w/ Rachmaninoff Vespers was in Grinnell, IA. Neal and I had returned from an INTENSE caving trip he took me (my 1st). After risking our lives in death-passages, we emerged victorious. Went to DQ to satiate. Returned to the house where Neal and buddies lived and he put the Vespers on. I recall looking out the window, onto a prairie just full of corn, as far as the eye could see, dark storm clouds rolling in, a July thunderstorm read to hit. And Vespers was on....put me in a trance.
ReplyDeleteWonderful memory.
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