The Eve Mandelstam Memorial Concert

Getting ready for the Tuesday concert with violinist Regino Madrid. This has been a particularly satisfying program to prepare. Here is a clip from a recent rehearsal:

Brahms 3rd movt clip

The music was chosen in consultation with Eve Mandelstam's daughter Marji as an appreciation of Eve. Eve used to come to many of our concerts, once even walking astonishingly far to do so. She had mystical pale blue eyes and great spiritual intensity.

Of the Brahms G major sonata, Clara Schumann apparently once said that this would be the music she would like to accompany her into the next world. The opportunity to revisit this piece is especially welcome to me because of a recent fascination with the way Brahms creates the impression of rhythmic freedom by superimposing meters. This sonata is a hugely successful example of that.

The Franck actually serves as a secondary memorial - I distinctly remember hearing my aunt, not Thelma, but Janice, perform this with a violinist in her living room in Chicago. I was very impressed, and somewhat puzzled, because no one in my family had ever talked about her very much as a pianist. You may know that the Franck is one of the most technically difficult piano parts in the violin sonata literature, and she played it with apparent ease. So it is with an appreciation and fond memories of my musician aunt Janice that I return to the Franck.

Eve Mandelstam also loved the piano music of Chopin, so this is an opportunity to program some Chopin. My Chopin playing is shy - it is mostly for myself, and I share only so much as will return to me unscathed. The Eb Nocturne volunteered for this, and a little Ab Mazurka. And the Brahms 4th Ballade insisted on being included. Its luscious rolling sections charm and transport me every time I play them.

Carry Me Home

I was up in NY last week rehearsing for a program with Charley Gerard and his violist daughter Eva. We read through his "Ecumenical Suite", which starts with a movingly beautiful meditation on "Swing Low". Amazingly, I did not hear Swing Low in the piece until I listened back to the recording of our rehearsal. It's worth a listen:

Carry Me Home, by Charley Gerard

More Brahms songs

Here are some more translations:

Vergebliches Ständchen (Unsuccessful Serenade) (Anton Wilhelm Florentin von Zuccalmaglio)

Er:
Guten Abend, mein Schatz,
guten Abend, mein Kind!
Ich komm' aus Lieb' zu dir,
Ach, mach' mir auf die Tür,
mach' mir auf die Tür!

Sie:
Meine Tür ist verschlossen,
Ich laß dich nicht ein;
Mutter, die rät' mir klug,
Wär'st du herein mit Fug,
Wär's mit mir vorbei!

Er:
So kalt ist die Nacht,
so eisig der Wind,
Daß mir das Herz erfriert,
Mein' Lieb' erlöschen wird;
Öffne mir, mein Kind!

Sie:
Löschet dein' Lieb';
lass' sie löschen nur!
Löschet sie immerzu,
Geh' heim zu Bett, zur Ruh'!
Gute Nacht, mein Knab'!

He:
Good evening, my dearest
Good evening, my pet
My love for you brought me all the way here
Open the door, open the door!

She:
The door is locked
I can’t let you in;
Mother, she told me
If you got in here
It would be all over with me.

He:
The night is so cold
The wind bites as well
My heart is freezing
My love might cool too
Open up, child!

She:
Let it cool
Just let it go out
And if it keeps going out
Go home to bed, and get some rest
Good night, boyfriend!


Wir wandelten (We walked together) (Georg Friedrich Daumer)

Wir wandelten, wir zwei zusammen,
ich war so still und du so stille,
ich gäbe viel, um zu erfahren,
was du gedacht in jenem Fall.

Was ich gedacht, unausgesprochen verbleibe das!
Nur Eines sag' ich:
So schön war alles, was ich dachte,
so himmlisch heiter war es all'.

In meinem Haupte die Gedanken,
sie läuteten wie gold'ne Glöckchen:
so wundersüß, so wunderlieblich
ist in der Welt kein and'rer Hall.

We walked together, just we two.
I so quiet, and you so still
I’d give a lot to know
What you were thinking then.

I was thinking – I won’t say. Just this:
So lovely, so full of joy
My thoughts were like little golden chimes!
Nowhere on earth could one find a sweeter, dearer sound.


Feldeinsamkeit (Meadow solitude) (Hermann Allmers)

Ich ruhe still im hohen grünen Gras
Und sende lange meinen Blick nach oben,
Von Grillen rings umschwirrt ohn Unterlaß,
Von Himmelsbläue wundersam umwoben.

Die schönen weißen Wolken ziehn dahin
Durchs tiefe Blau, wie schöne stille Träume;
Mir ist, als ob ich längst gestorben bin
Und ziehe selig mit durch ew'ge Räume.


I lie so still, in high green grass
Gazing long into the sky
Cicadas whirring everywhere
Wonderfully enveloped by blue.

Soft clouds move across the sky
Like lovely quiet dreams
It’s as if I’ve long been dead
And drift cloud-like through eternity.

Lerchengesang (Lark Song) (Karl August Candidus)

Ätherische ferne Stimmen,
Der Lerchen himmlische Grüße,
Wie regt ihr mir so süße
Die Brust, ihr lieblichen Stimmen!

Ich schließe leis mein Auge,
Da ziehn Erinnerungen
In sanften Dämmerungen
Durchweht vom Frühlingshauche.

Distant sounds from high above
The ethereal greeting of the larks
Their lovely voices
Go straight to my heart

My eyes close gently
While soft evenings
And spring breezes
Steal into my memory.

Weg der Liebe I (Love’s Way)

Über die Berge,
Über die Wellen,
Unter den Gräbern,
Unter den Quellen,
Über Fluten und Seen
In der Abgründe Steg,
Über Felsen, über Höhen,
Find't Liebe den Weg!

In Ritzen, in Falten,
Wo der Feu'rwurm nicht liegt,
In Höhlen, in Spalten,
Wo die Fliege nicht kriecht,
Wo Mücken nicht fliegen
Und schlüpfen hinweg,
Kommt Liebe, sie wird siegen
Und finden den Weg.

Sprecht, Amor sei nimmer
Zu fürchten, das Kind!
Lacht über ihn immer,
Als Flüchtling, als blind,
Und schließt ihn durch Riegel
Vom Taglicht hinweg:
Durch Schlösser und Siegel
Find't Liebe den Weg.

Wenn Phönix und Adler
Sich unter euch beugt,
Wenn Drache, wenn Tiger
Gefällig sich neigt,
Die Löwin läßt kriegen
Den Raub sich hinweg,
Kommt Liebe, sie wird siegen
Und finden den Weg.

Over the mountains, and over the waves,
Under the fountains and under the graves
Over the rivers and over the sea,
On top of the mountain, in deepest valley
Love finds a way!

In crack, crevice, or fold
Too small for a mite, where fly cannot creep,
And glowworm can’t lie
In holes, or in burrows where fly cannot crawl
Or midge can’t slip in
Love conquers all.

You may say Love’s a child,
A fugitive, blind,
You can tie him with rules,
And lock him from mind
But despite all intent
To make him obey
Through padlocks and seals
Love finds the way!

Should phoenix and eagle
Drop down from the sky
Should dragon and tiger
Meekly comply
The lion let go and give up her prey
Love still will conquer
And find out the way!


Weg der Liebe II (Love’s Way)

Den gordischen Knoten,
Den Liebe sich band,
Kann brechen, kann lösen
Ihn sterbliche Hand?
Was müht ihr, was sinnet
Ihr listigen Zweck?
Durch was ihr beginnet,
Find't Liebe den Weg.

Und wär' er verriegelt,
Und wär' er verkannt,
Sein Name versiegelt
Und nimmer genannt,
Mitleidige Winde,
Ihr schlüpftet zu mir
Und brächtet mir Zeitung
Und brächtet ihn mir.

Wärst fern über Bergen,
Wärst fern überm Meer:
Ich wandert' durch Berge,
Ich schwämme durchs Meer;
Wärst, Liebchen, ein' Schwalbe
Und schlüpftest am Bach,
Ich, Liebchen, wär' Schwalbe
Und schlüpfte dir nach.

The Gordian knot
That Love himself makes
What mortal hand
Can loosen or break?
Cunning and labor,
All are in vain.
Despite your best efforts,
Love wins again.
Bolted or barred,
Despised or abused
Sympathetic winds
Bring me the news.
Be you far over mountains, over the sea,
I’d wander the mountains, cross the sea.
Were you, dear, a swallow, and took to the air,
I’d be a swallow too and follow you there.

Die Schwestern (The Sisters)

Wir Schwestern zwei,
wir schönen,
So gleich von Angesicht,
So gleich kein Ei dem andern,
Kein Stern dem andern nicht.

Wir Schwestern zwei, wir schönen,
Wir haben nußbraun Haar;
Und flichtst du sie in einem Zopf,
Man kennt sie nicht fürwahr.
Wir Schwestern zwei, wir schönen,
Wir tragen gleich Gewand,
Spazieren auf dem Wiesenplan
Und singen Hand in Hand.

Wir Schwestern zwei, wir schönen,
Wir spinnen in die Wett,
Wir sitzen an einer Kunkel,
Und schlafen in einem Bett.
O Schwestern zwei, ihr schönen,
Wie hat sich das Blättchen gewandt!
Ihr liebet einerlei Liebchen;
Jetzt hat das Liedel ein End!

We sisters two, we beauties
So like the other we are
No two white eggs
Nor two bright stars
Could be more similar

We sisters two, we beauties,
With pretty nut-brown hair
Braided high upon our heads
We’re just a perfect pair.

We sisters two, we beauties,
We wear the same blue frock
We sing together hand in hand
As in the fields we walk.

We sisters two, we beauties
At wheels we spin our thread
We eat in the same corner
And sleep in the same bed.

You sisters two, you beauties
Oh how the page has turned!
You covet the same sweetheart
And now you both do burn.

Brahms songs

We are getting ready to perform Brahms and Dvorak songs and vocal duets again in North Carolina and later in Bethesda. I keep tinkering with the translations, which I find delightful, but I'm not sure anyone else really cares. Nevertheless, here are my latest attempts at the Op. 105 songs and Von Ewiger Liebe:

Wie Melodien Op. 105#1 (Melodies) (Klaus Groth)

Wie Melodien zieht es
Mir leise durch den Sinn,
Wie Frühlingsblumen blüht es,
Und schwebt wie Duft dahin.

Doch kommt das Wort und faßt es
Und führt es vor das Aug',
Wie Nebelgrau erblaßt es
Und schwindet wie ein Hauch.

Und dennoch ruht im Reime
Verborgen wohl ein Duft,
Den mild aus stillem Keime
Ein feuchtes Auge ruft.

It is as if melodies drift softly through my mind
Like spring flowers, they fill me with their fragrance.
I try to capture them, but they disappear like mist, like breath.
And yet hidden in these notes, there remains a trace of scent
Gently drawn from silent buds by tears.

Immer leiser Op. 105#2 (Light Sleep) (Hermann von Lingg)

Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer,
Nur wie Schleier liegt mein Kummer
Zitternd über mir.
Oft im Traume hör ich dich
Rufen drauß vor meiner Tür,
Niemand wacht und öffnet dir,
Ich erwach und weine bitterlich.
Ja, ich werde sterben müssen,
Eine Andre wirst du küssen,
Wenn ich bleich und kalt.
Eh die Maienlüfte wehn
Eh die Drossel singt im Wald:
Willst du mich noch einmal sehn,
Komm, o komme bald!

My sleep is ever lighter
And grief lies over me
Like a trembling veil

In dreams you call outside my door
No one opens for you
And I awake weeping.

Yes, I must die.
And you will kiss another
When I am clay.

Before May breezes waft
And the thrush sings in the woods
If you would see me
Come soon, come soon!


Im Kirchhöfe Op. 105#4 (In the churchyard) (Detlev von Liliencron)

Der Tag ging regenschwer und sturmbewegt,
Ich war an manch vergessenem Grab gewesen,
Verwittert Stein und Kreuz, die Kränze alt,
Die Namen überwachsen, kaum zu lesen.

Der Tag ging sturmbewegt und regenschwer,
Auf allen Gräbern fror das Wort: Gewesen.
Wie sturmestot die Särge schlummerten,
Auf allen Gräbern taute still: Genesen.

One storm-driven rainy day
I wandered among forgotten graves,
Weathered stones and crosses
Faded wreaths, illegible names

One storm-driven rainy day
On every grave froze a single word: "Was"

As stormy dead the coffins slept
Dripped from every stone another word: "Healed"

Von ewiger Liebe Op. 43#1
(Eternal Love) (Josef Wenzig)

Dunkel, wie dunkel in Wald und in Feld!
Abend schon ist es, nun schweiget die Welt.
Nirgend noch Licht und nirgend noch Rauch,
Ja, und die Lerche sie schweiget nun auch.

Kommt aus dem Dorfe der Bursche heraus,
Gibt das Geleit der Geliebten nach Haus,
Führt sie am Weidengebüsche vorbei,
Redet so viel und so mancherlei:

“Leidest du Schmach und betrübest du dich,
Leidest du Schmach von andern um mich,
Werde die Liebe getrennt so geschwind,
Schnell wie wir früher vereiniget sind.
Scheide mit Regen und scheide mit Wind,
Schnell wie wir früher vereiniget sind.”

Spricht das Mägdelein, Mägdelein spricht:
“Unsere Liebe sie trennet sich nicht!
Fest ist der Stahl und das Eisen gar sehr,
Unsere Liebe ist fester noch mehr.

Eisen und Stahl, man schmiedet sie um,
Unsere Liebe, wer wandelt sie um?
Eisen und Stahl, sie können zergehn,
Unsere Liebe muß ewig bestehn!”

Twilight and dusk cover forest and field
A few cottage lights, scarce chimney smoke
The call of the lark
Has ceased, fallen silent.

Out of the willows, away from the village
A boy leads a girl,
In conversation, ever so serious.

Says youth to the maiden:
“If you are ashamed, or fear disgrace,
Let us part quickly, the way we first met,
Like rain, like the wind.”

Then says the maiden, the maiden she said:
“Our love is sacred, we shall part never!
Firm as the rock, stronger than iron,
Even stronger our love!
Iron and steel, they melt in a forge.
Our love, who could change it?
Iron and steel, time destroys.
Our love, our love, is eternal!”

music and the restaurant business

Wow, it's been awhile. The thing about blogging is that for me it is an activity of repose, not turbulence. When life is exciting and full of action and change, no blog entries. When things settle down, maybe I can afford to get a little philosophical.

Not quite there yet, but here is something from Ethelbert Miller's recent blog that caught my attention:

"Once the restaurant opens its doors, the best thing a person can do is get out of the way and allow it to take shape while watching from a distance. He or she must also be willing to let go and allow the restaurant to discover its groove on its own." Andy Shallal, founder of Busboys and Poets.

"MILLER'S LAW

Play the notes and then get out of the way." Ethelbert Miller, Sept. 2, 2009

Romantic

Yes, it is particularly romantic, because Judy and David are getting married on Saturday July 11, and then rehearsing with Betty, Regino, and me on the very next day for the Tuesday concert. These are truly dedicated musicians! (From the Bethesda Gazette, July 10, 2009)

Letter from Eva Fox-Gál

I received this very nice email from the daughter of Hans Gál:

Dear Carl,

Thank you very much indeed for reporting back about the concert last Thursday. An audience of 200 is impressive, and particularly nice that the Austrian Ambassador attended as well. We're most grateful to the ACF for their support, and hope that they too were pleased with the event.

It was wonderful that you included 3 chamber works as well as the 'What a Life' material - a real Gál feast, and hopefully not too much for the audience to stomach! We certainly hope to be able to come ourselves if you manage to put on a concert like this again. It's great that you reached people with direct links to the refugee experience, and even someone whose father had been in that very camp, as well as people with no prior knowledge. Someone else in the audience with a direct link to Gál was the son of his godson, and he has already reported very enthusiastically. It is not just in the US that people are unaware of the British internment of refugees as 'enemy aliens' - people here are also largely unaware of this chapter of wartime history.

If there are any press reports of the event - or even an enthusiastic blog! - we'd certainly appreciate them for the Hans Gál Society Newsletter.

Thanks again for all your efforts - not least for all those notes you had to learn.

With all best wishes,

Eva

Dick Hyman's Novelties

I recently performed a piece by Dick Hyman called "Novelties" with Charley Gerard's Broken Reed Saxophone Quartet. I was pretty nervous, because it is a work with a real jazz sensibility, and Charley had approached the composer to obtain the score. So it was very gratifying and a relief to get this very nice note from Dick Hyman after Charley sent him the recording of our April 3 concert at Brooklyn Conservatory:

Carl: I liked your playing on the Novelties, which you recently performed with Charley Gerard, and in appreciation would like to send you a full piano solo version of THINKING ABOUT BIX, which you recall was the first movement of the Novelties suite. Please let me know your mailing address, and many thanks.
Dick Hyman

I really love the piece! We plan to record it for Centaur records in June or July.