Eastern Kentucky University
Song Interpretation for the Undergraduate Singer
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Joyce Hall Wolf
Abstract
Learning to interpret a song is one of the most important elements in the development of a young singer. The singer must understand that the composer began with a text that, in some way, inspired new music. For the singer, the text and the music must be considered individually and as a whole. The steps of critical thinking for song analysis begin with reading the poem as a piece of literature and then investigating the various musical elements. These elements include key, tempo, form, range, tessitura, and dynamics. The compositional use of these elements must be considered when examining the composer’s interpretation of the poem. Only then can the singer apply his/her own creative thinking for a performance interpretation. Two songs will be considered specifically in this presentation. They are settings of the poem Agnes by Eduard Mörike. Agnes was set in the late 19th century, in the original German, by both Johannes Brahms and Hugo Wolf. The two composers’ differing interpretations of the poem and the journey of the singer to expressive and creative performances of each lied will be presented in this poster presentation.
Song Interpretation for the Undergraduate Singer
Learning to interpret a song is one of the most important elements in the development of a young singer. The singer must understand that the composer began with a text that, in some way, inspired new music. For the singer, the text and the music must be considered individually and as a whole. The steps of critical thinking for song analysis begin with reading the poem as a piece of literature and then investigating the various musical elements. These elements include key, tempo, form, range, tessitura, and dynamics. The compositional use of these elements must be considered when examining the composer’s interpretation of the poem. Only then can the singer apply his/her own creative thinking for a performance interpretation. Two songs will be considered specifically in this presentation. They are settings of the poem Agnes by Eduard Mörike. Agnes was set in the late 19th century, in the original German, by both Johannes Brahms and Hugo Wolf. The two composers’ differing interpretations of the poem and the journey of the singer to expressive and creative performances of each lied will be presented in this poster presentation.