More than one hundred composers. In particular, 104 composers and 439 songs altogether. I must admit that when I checked the numbers for this birthday post, that figure impressed me; I don't think I would be able to list one hundred composers of song if you would ask me now. However, there's another way of set out that: Most composers wrote some songs at some time or other in their careers, so I hope we keep on listening to new composers for a long time, even as unexpected as Bruckner, for instance.
The rest of the numbers are also special. We reached the 200 poets, though poets are generally chosen not by listeners but by composers. Technically, we have also reached this figure with performers as well: 197 singers and 194 accompanists; there's so much variety that I hope your favourites are among them, too.
All of this in eight years. Are there many? Are there few? I didn't found any statistics about blogs lifespan, but I would say that eight years is a long life for a blog and should be celebrated. To begin with, dearest readers, let me thank you for being on the other side of the screen; this wouldn't make any sense without you. I would like to thank the performers as well; you never had any objection to my sharing your music, and no doubt that without your music this would make no sense either.
I arrived at the blogosphere in February 2012, ready to write about Art Song, a tiny blog niche. I wasn't really convinced because that also implied writing about me, and I didn't like this idea, but I was persuaded. They told me: “well, you won't write about you, you'll write about music!.” And, believe, I do write about me, even if it's not evident. The thing is that I'm here eight years later and I'm grateful, because Liederabend only brought me good things. I have learned a lot about many topics; I've met wonderful people, with whom I shared that kind of conversations that only Art Song lovers could understand; I've met singers and pianists I admired; I have a job I love. And yes, maintaining this website is a lot of work, but I am happy with that.
One of the musicians I was lucky to meet, even briefly, was pianist Dalton Baldwin, who left us last December. Today, as a small tribute, we will have his music; we're listening to Nixe Binsefuss, the no. 45 of Hugo Wolf's Mörike-Lieder; the voice is that of Elly Ameling. Thank you for so much music, Mr. Baldwin.
And next week we'll start the ninth year of Liederabend...
Des Wassermanns sein Töchterlein
Tanzt auf dem Eis im Vollmondschein,
Sie singt und lachet sonder Scheu
Wohl an des Fischers Haus vorbei.
»Ich bin die Jungfer Binsefuß,
Und meine Fisch' wohl hüten muß,
Meine Fisch' die sind im Kasten,
Sie haben kalte Fasten;
Von Böhmerglas mein Kasten ist,
Da zähl' ich sie zu jeder Frist.
Gelt, Fischermatz? gelt, alter Tropf,
Dir will der Winter nicht in Kopf?
Komm mir mit deinen Netzen!
Die will ich schön zerfetzen!
Dein Mägdlein zwar ist fromm und gut,
Ihr Schatz ein braves Jägerblut.
Drum häng' ich ihr, zum Hochzeitsstrauß,
Ein schilfen Kränzlein vor das Haus,
Und einen Hecht, von Silber schwer,
Er stammt von König Artus her,
Ein Zwergen-Goldschmids-Meisterstück,
Wer's hat, dem bringt es eitel Glück:
Er läßt sich schuppen Jahr für Jahr,
Da sind's fünfhundert Gröschlein baar.
Ade, mein Kind! Ade für heut!
Der Morgenhahn im Dorfe schreit.«
[Last edited on 6/2] Just one more thing: next week I'm posting on Tuesday, around 1 p.m., after the Schubertíada 2020 is presented. it will be worth the wait!
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