This is something I wrote on Dreamwidth in September. I think some of you may find it interesting. I myself am beginning to study all of this, as I am fascinated by the singing methods and knowledge of the time. It is a bit difficult doing it being blind and unable to read music, but fortunately, there are ways around that. My perfect pitch and good memory for lyrics also helps.
Below, you will find various links related to theory, harmony and counterpoint, and a comparison of older and modern methods of teaching and singing. While this relates to choirs and opera, it also relates to the theatre, particularly operettas and such.
Studying Music: Part I
dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205…
My one criterion was that the methods and books used had to be from the time of Ivor Novello, preferably from his youth (born 1893). If I were to start in the early nineteenth century, which is where most of my preferred non-musical educational material is from, I would miss extremely important developments in classical music. Starting at the birth of his mother, Clara Novello Davies, in 1861, would be fine. However, since her own book, which I am using as my main text and guide, was written in 1928, I went with that of her son. In the following sections, you will find the books I am using. One thing I have not included, though it was a huge influence in Ivor's own writing style, was theatrical music, such as that found in operettas and Edwardian musical comedies. That is such a large topic for discussion that I feel it deserves its own separate post, as does Ivor's music, since it's an interesting blend of all of the above. But this is well outside the scope of traditional musical study.
In the next entry, we will delve into vocal training and why the singers of Novello's time sound so wonderful.
Studying Music: Part II
dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205…
Finally, since I mentioned the exercises, here they are, for anyone who wants to try them. Note that these are the Preliminaries and Breathlock Physicals, not the vocal exercises. But I have provided the link to her book as well, for those who may wish to go further.
Clara's Exercises
dandylover1.dreamwidth.org/205…
#books #choir #ClaraNovelloDavies #counterpoint #exercises #harmony #history #IvorNovello #music #musictheory #opera #operetta #singing #studying #vocaltraining #voicetraining #theater #theatre
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""Noël Coward is at the center of everything theatrical in Britain," Quinn explained. "He knew everyone," she said, "but also was influenced by everyone and influenced everyone—he played such a key cultural role." Yet, despite this extraordinary impact Coward had on the theatre world, and while there are many Coward enthusiasts today, "much of our scholarly attention has been focused on the main figures in American musical theatre, or focused on people from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s generation onward. ..."
nypl.org/blog/2022/02/14/new-f…
I learned about Noel Coward through my interest in Clifton Webb, who was friends with him. Then, I learned about Ivor Novello through Noel Coward! Now, I'm learning about even more people through the three of them! With their humour and wit, Web ad Coward both remind me of Beau Brummell. Maybe, that's why I enjoy them so much, but Webb and Brummell were both proper gentlemen, whereas in private, Coward could use obscenities that would make a sailor blush. What really stands out to me about Coward is that, unlike Novello, he was neither classically trained nor well-educated. Everything he did was his own.
Anyway, this is a bit old, but I do wonder what new research has been done since then. I recently saw a wonderful documentary, called Mad About The Boy, which told the story of Noel Coward, and best of all, contained interviews of people who knew him. As for me, I'm not really much for modern theatre. I start in the Regency (I've seen a few earlier plays, too), enjoy the great operettas and Gilbert and Sullivan, and then, this lovely lot of characters. The singing today just can't compare, unless you go to the opera, and many of the storylines leave much to be desired. I would love to be proven wrong. I would also love to find performances of the old shows that aren't modernized in language and plot!
I have a wonderful tribute video, called The Romantic World of Ivor Novello that I found on Youtube.
youtube.com/watch?v=NGOuLWM083…
It is hosted by Vanessa Lee, and along with the performances of his songs, there are interviews with his original singers, though they do not sing or act in this one. Anyway, aside from that wonderful surprise, there are two very interesting parts. The first is heard during the introduction. It consists of the voice of Novello himself. The second is a story told by Vanessa part-way through the performance. She mentioned a recording of Glamorous Night for the BBC, during which she and the other actors performed, but Ivor was at home, having pre-recordied his own material. Aside from being extremely entertaining, this anecdote gives several very important clues. First, this was done during the run of King's Rhapsody, putting the date between 1949 and his death in 1951. Secondly, not only was their dialogue, but it was made in two recordings (presumably, they recorded the actors performing live as well). Thirdly, this was on the radio, which, given the time, is to be expected.
My questions are two-fold.
1. Where did that introduction by Novello come from? I know the BBC had a horrible habbit of destroying things, but this was made in 1979, so I highly doubt they would have done so after that point, given his fame and the fact that he died in 1951.
2. Does the radio production of Glamorous Night exist, either in full or in part, and if so, where is it? Did anyone, by chance, record it? Some shows have actually been saved via reel-to-reel recordings made by listeners. If this does exist, it would be one of the most important discoveries in Novellian research, since it would be the closest we could come today to actually hearing the singing, and more importantly, the speaking performances of him and his original cast, minus Mary Ellis who had already left to do other things by this point. Other than the tiny clips on records, the only thing that even comes close is the other tribute I posted a few days ago, which I later learned contained several scenes from plays, along with music, again, by the originals!
youtube.com/watch?v=etB7t_ETqS…
If anyone knows of other recordings of his plays with dialogue, even modern ones, please let me know. They are extremely rare.
#BBC #GlamorousNight #IvorNovello #radio #theatre #VanessaLee
To medical professionals, there may be different nuances here. This is the popular understanding.
I'm not religious or superstitious, but this is very odd. Ivor Novello died in 1951 of a heart attack. Noel Coward, one of his best friends, died in 1973, 51 years ago, of a heart attack. Christopher Hassall, Novello's librettist, died in 1963, at the age of 51, also of a heart attack! Breakin the 51 theme but remaining with the health one, Clifton Webb, friend of Coward, died of a heart attack, as did both Gilbert and Sullivan, who influenced Novello! As for Hassall, I now have all sorts of lovely things to download from him! His RP accent is absolutely beautiful, as are his tones, and he is very much worth seeking out.
#ChristopherHassall #CliftonWebb #GilbertandSullivan #heartattack #IvorNovello #NoelCoward
This week has been one Novellian discovery after another, and each better than the last!
First, I was able to add to my film list, with Once a Lady (1931. This is not the clips I found earlier, but the full film! I also have The Lodger (1932), I Lived with You (1933), Sleeping Car (1933), and Autumn Crocus (1934). Now, I'm just missing Symphony in Two Flats )1930/wrote), But The Flesh is Weak (1932/wrote but not in it). If anyone wants the links to the others,, let me know, as they're all on Youtube. I also have Glamorous Night, but he's not in it. Mary Ellis is, though. That one I bought.
Then, I found two very unusual pieces. They are both instrumental and are actually narrated by Novello himself! They come from King's Rhapsody, which I was lucky enough to have seen (also on Youtube and well worth watching), but other than a few notes at the beginning, taken from Mountain Dove, and some snattches of familiar songs, I don't recall them being there. Maybe, this was an audio special.
Muranian Rhapsody Part 1
youtube.com/watch?v=JIbrYatXPd…
Muranian Rhapsody Part 2
youtube.com/watch?v=ciVi8L-KPe…
Today, while looking for other works written/translated by Christopher Hassall, I found something that almost brought me to tears, for several reasons. It is a tribute to Ivor Novello, made by those who knew him, a mere two days after his death! Whether reporters tracked down these poor people and bothered them or whether they got together to honour their friend, boss, etc. I don't know. But it is a golden treasure, as some of these actors I'll probably never get to hear anywhere else. Others I have, either singing or in interviews, including a huge concert narrated by Vanessa Lee.
youtube.com/watch?v=etB7t_ETqS…
The other day, I found something else by Novello, though not Ivor! I had completely forgotten that his adopted sister Marie was a classical pianist! Sadly, she died quite young, and all but two of her recordings were acoustic, as they were made in the 1920's. I found thirteen of them on Youtube, all under six minutes.
I chose this one because it's one of her two electrics, and is therefore very clear.
Arensky: Etude Op36 No13
youtube.com/watch?v=5O9J5LVA6P…
This one is not only clear for being acoustic, but there is a bit of history attached. She was actually the last living student of the composer, Theodor Leschetizky. I have never heard of him, but I'm sure some of you have.
Leschetizky: Toccata
youtube.com/watch?v=SK5qHsOf_p…
#IvorNovello #MarieNovello #theatre #films #MaryEllis #OliveGilbert#ChristopherHassall
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