Oct 12 2007
High Notes In Man Of La Mancha
Just an interesting snippet…
I read on several websites references to the “really high notes” in the song Man Of La Mancha. I was like “what?!” High notes? The note is an E5. It’s perfect for a baritone…even a bass could probably do it. I’m a second-rate baritone, and I can sing it even higher than the original key, so I was confused as to what high notes they were talking about. Then I found this video:
Interesting. Not bad, but I still prefer a hearty baritone voice…what do y’all think?
%DIGG%
Share This
Wow, those were some high notes. I’ve never seen the video before, but I think I’ve heard a woman sing it before, not sure where though. I prefer it when a man sings it, though. Who’s the woman in the video? She’s OK.
I love Don Quixote. I’ve read the book. I have the movie version of the musical (unfortunately, I’ve never had the chance to see it on stage). I also have the soundrack to one of the broadway versions. Interesting that you should post this now, though. I’m taking Spanish right now in college and our teacher just had us do research on Don Quixote for class because we’re going to go see a play version of it in Spanish this coming Friday.
Linda Eder is the singer in this video.
Ah yes, Ms. Eder.
Honestly, I like her version, WITHOUT the high notes. She’s just showing off, as primas do. Good for her, that a mezzo can reach those high octaves. I’d sing it with more gusto, like her climax…with a bit more dramatic flare for the verses. I’m thinking about adding it to my own demo cd, but like you’ve said…it really is a male’s song (”I am I, Don Quixote” is something you really CAN’T take out or re-gender).
I DO like Linda Eder as “Lucy” in Jekyll and Hyde…her “Barbra Streisand-esque” voice goes well with the genre…but NOT with The Scarlet Pimpernel…nor with Cyrano.
I hope Frank leaves her out of the next cast.
What is she in right now?
Adam,
Thanks for including our Linda Eder video in your blog.
Many wonderful songs from musicals can stand alone very effectively in a concert setting. Once they are out of context from the original musical, artists have much more freedom in how the song can be interpreted.
Using the example of “Man of La Mancha”, a baritone voice is certainly the most appropriate for a performance within the musical. As a concert performance, however, Linda Eder gives a stunning (and yes, show-off) rendition.
There are many excellent examples on YouTube of women successfully performing songs originally intended for men (and vice versa) in a concert setting. Take “Being Alive” sung by Bobby in “Company.” While I think Dean Jones from the OBC gives the defining performance, both Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone have performed this extremely well.
Concert performances can also give songs a whole new meaning. Without the razors, John Barrowman and George Hearn make “Pretty Women” from “Sweeney Todd” a beautiful, poignant song. Similarly, take away the context of presidential assassination and John Barrowman and Ruthie Henshall turn “Unworthy of Your Love” into a wonderful love song.
Of course, the shift in context can be a bit jarring for those familiar with the original setting. But if you can set that aside, many wonderful songs can be enjoyed in new ways.
On a completely different note (but tied back to the original subject of high notes), we’ve just posted a new video on our BestArts YouTube channel, “Best of Sister Act 2 medley.” Ryan Toby sings a strong whistle tone E6+ (above the falsetto register, at 3:01) that is truly astonishing. Let’s hear a baritone hit that!
Regards,
Kevin Ireland
“BestArts”
Kevin…
Nice video collection you have on YouTube. A good baritone should be able to hit a E6 in whistle register. I can hit somewhere in the c6-E6 range, depending on the day, and I’m a second rate baritone.
I agree that there are some great examples of men singing songs from female parts and women singing songs from male parts. Michael Ball has a good rendition of “Show Me” from My Fair Lady.
I just don’t think this is a good song for a woman. For one thing, Linda sings “I am…Don” ???
While I really enjoy her performance, I think this is one song that no female singer can beat a really good baritone on. (For the same reason that Vittorio Grigolo can’t touch a female singer on “I Feel Pretty”!)
According to “The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults”, men can only produce a whistle tone in very rare instances. Listen to the note that I describe…