Mechthild Johannsen - Folk Songs

Folk song program reviews, text:

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 1948 Mechthild Johannsen Sings For
Appreciative Group At Hollow Hills It was a rare and beautiful experience to listen to the singing
of Mechthild Johannsen at Hollow Hills Farm last Sunday evening. She will be remembered as Mary Perrybingle in The Cricket on the
Hearth given here a few months ago by the Ojai Festival Players. In a simple program for St. Mark's Day, she sang a group of folk songs, two lovely Bach arias and several compositions in the modern
mode. The folk songs were accompani- had all the magic of a fairy-tale,
ed by her own playing on the zith-.
all the charm which is ever a gift er. This instrument was used deli- of grace and comes to the listener cately and with a fine artistry, so from no one knows where. that it seemed like rustling sweeps
of the wind moving among the
In the third, fourth and sixth tones of the voice. Seldom are folk groups Miss Johannsen was ably songs heard sung with such a and sensitively accompanied at the
charming combination of earnest- piano by Richard Ames, who play-
ed the Second Suite for Harpsi- ness and playfulness. Miss Johann- sen's voice is just right for such chord, by Henry Purcell and the
singing. It is a natural voice, with very interesting, dissonant Masque
by John Lessard. none of the tricks of the over-
trained singer. It is clear and shin-
Two encores, Solveig's Song by
ning in its own range, warm and
Grieg and an aria from Pelleas
vibrant and full of quiet emotion.
and Melisande by Debussy brought It moves from grief to joy with a the charming program to a close.
gentle transition, making the one
Altogether it was an evening of as convincing as the other. In the genuine musical enjoyment, made lovely old English song, All in the possible by the hospitality of Noel
Morning, this was particularly evi.
Sullivan and his beautiful music dent. Where could one ever hear room designed for just such Oc-
a religious folk song so movingly casions.
D. H. and tenderly sung? Such art is in-
deed rare in our times. -Of the two Bach arias sung by this enchanting singer the second was particularly touching in its grave beauty. It was more than a song. It was a message. It was the cry of the human spirit resisting, yet accepting its fate in this strange world where "all must
die." Three songs by Hugo Wolff, with their unusual and refreshing cad- ences gave evidence of Miss Johan- nsen's thorough musical under-
standing. The delightful elfenlied
THE CAMEL PINE CONE-CYMBAL

Review of song program, text:
A-6
Santa Barbara News-Press, Thurs. Eve., Aug. 28, 1952
| Mechthild Johannsen Pleases Audience With Song Renditions. A small audience last night I ness, demonstrated well her abll- set to music by Miss Johannser enjoyed the rendition of songs ity to interpret songs of many and a group of simple folksong of yesterday and today by Mech- lands and ages. She preserved which concluded the program thild Johannsen at Monteverde the authenticity as well as the Among these the popular Ger as part of the current anthro- melodiousness of these songs man nursery song "Weist
posophical
conference of art carefully.
Wieviel
Sterna
'Stehen"
especially dellghtful,
being held there,
VARIED PROGRAM
Miss Johannsen who has won
Opening with a Latin chant CLEAR, RICH VOICE
considerable notice here as an
considerand as associate of her from the sixth Century, the are
Miss Johannsen sings in
er also included on her varled clear, rich voice and accompanie
husband, Hark: program Weish, Breton, German, herself skilfully on a farg English and Amerlean folk zither. Her choice of prograr
songs.
Of special interest to was not always good since th
scholars similarity of some of the me of early music was the Druid odies at times gave an impressio
song "The Row," which has been of monotony.
Nevertheless sh
preserved in Brittany. Unfortun:
is a perceptive and devoted i1 ately the great redundancy of terpreter of medieval, traditions words, rythms and melody did and modern songs. Her plan not lend Itself to a performance present this type of song recita
of any entertainment value.
widely should meet with co Especially successful were the siderable success.
three poems by Albert Steffen
Henry J. Seldi CHARMING EVENING OF FOLK SONGS BY
MISS JOHANNSEN Mechthild Johannsen present- ed a quaint and charming even-
ing of
Songs of Yesterday and
Today"
Saturday at the High
Valley Theatre. In a very well rounded pro- gram, she entertained her au- Dehce with a well-educated and voice. Her presentation was charming and intimate as accompanied herself de- lightfully on one of the most
fascinating Instruments in our
the zither A highlight on her program
was
The Row" of Brittany.
While termed a
"fragment'.
was very interesting in spite of Tpleal of so many
in strength was
"Hymn to the
presented her own compo-
We liked Spring composi-
hackneyed,
The
she delight- with an unusu- milking He- Also Interesting
mourisca of two "Rid-
amerset and evidently has education displays a
ate style
Folk Music Proves
Delightful Fare At
High Valley
By Tom Procter
Opening her program with a
La tin invocation
*Utgucant
Laxis." trom the 4th century D., Mechthild Johnannsen pre-
sented a delightful evening
Ing8 of yesterday and today Saturday at the High Valley the ater. Her choice of songs provid ed wide range of mood and melody, varying from the ancient Druidie number song "The Row". giving biblical explanations of the numbers from one to tweive, to the more modern folk music of America portrayed in "Down
In the Valley" and The Ridge". Miss Johannsen's voice is ad- mirably suited to the sweet and simple melodies of folk music, and she enhanced their beauty with gabtle dramatic interprela- tion, giving a sense of intimacy" and warmth which charmed
audience. In addition to her vocal talents, the artist is a composer of merit,
and she presented three poems,
"Folksong", "Spring Grains" and "The Virgin" by Albert Steffen. which she has set in interesting musieal form. These were sung in the second portion of the pro- gram, in which she also included two ancient German songs, "Hymm To St. Michael',
Solstice." In the last portion of the erRI she sang the familiar Se [tish "Skye Bont Song." the bredean "Milking Song."* undi con trasted the musie of England an
the mountain airs of Kentuch
The Ridd Most haunting and effectiv was her rendition of "Salangadu the cry of a Creole woman has just lost her child. Here artist achieved a linerarma effect with the plaintive chor of the wither with which shie companies her songs, and a con bination of voice and body mov ment, expressing the yearamg the mother so graphically it difficult to realize she moving about the serge in
seareh for the child. •As a prelude to the Song", she toid an amising of how the bid wis closen to king of the animal worid, endit with the britexample a 'le on time the poscack war ever know to wing. More roimat In its humor was the Amorico windia song "A stundred Yesh, wh
the
SEE ET

Navigation

Home

mechthildharkness.net © 2005-2023 by various authors (of mechthildharkness.net) is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International