Cologne Dome at Night, by h0m3rcl3s (used under Creative Commons)
"The fire-fly wakens; waken thou with me"
There is a tenderness to this song which is quite fetching. The piano is light and delicate, gentle. The voice must also maintain a certain tender quality throughout. And yet, the love the singer feels is powerful, palpable, sensuous.
"With quivering leaves like greedy lips... every leaf languishes, trembling above the water"
This song is sensuality in text and music — Medtner captures both the willow’s yearning and the flowing water that will never be caught.
Hearing Russian vocal music is rare enough in America, usually limited to Rachmaninoff and Tschaikovsky. Medtner’s works are every bit as virtuosic and rewarding for both performers and listeners, and merit closer study. His works are available on IMSLP, and I encourage singers and pianists alike to dig in!
