Kathleen Battle and Wynton Marsalis: Baroque Duet

SongofJoy · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 7:26 am Post subject:

Hi!

I'm new here. I'm just wondering if anyone here has this CD? I've only heard one song from this cd and I loved it! I'm odering the cd on-line and would like to hear other opinions.

Derek Reaban · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 7:47 am Post subject:

SongofJoy,

There is an accompanying documentary related to this Marsalis / Battle CD. I have it on Laser Disk, but I’m certain that it is also available in video format. This documentary looks at the rehearsal, recording, and performance of many of songs on the CD. It also provides insights to each of the performers separately. You get to enjoy one piece from a jazz concert with the Marsalis family along with some backstage conversation and a short lesson with Marsalis and his teacher. Kathleen Battle is shown in her home working with her vocal coach and you get to hear her sing at her home Church on Easter Sunday.

There is one part of the disk that is just magic for me. After Battle rehearsed Jauchet Gott with her vocal coach, they segue to the recording session of this piece. They record several takes and you can see the frustration on the face of the vocal coach (Battle isn’t “vibrating”). During the playback, the vocal coach says, “You need to snap your head back, say Jauchet Gott, and then Look to God”. Wynton then jokes that, “and that may be hard to do in New York City!”. Very quickly the vocal coach says, “We don’t have to look for God. God is here! Praise him!”.

At that point the music takes on a much different character. What a freeing concept! It clearly was one of the most magical parts of that disk.

Add the CD to your collection, but please also consider adding the video / laser disk. This documentary is one of the most enjoyable items in my library! And this is only one small part of what makes it so special to me.

Enjoy!
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loudog · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 7:49 am Post subject:

I own this CD, and like it very much. Wynton's playing is wonderful, and Kathleen Battle sings like an angel. My only criticism is that while although some of Wynton's ornamentations are flashy, they are VERY uncharacteristic of the time period. Other than that, this is a great CD. There is a video that you can order that is a bit of a documentary on the making of this CD. Amazon.com carries it, and it's a great companion to the CD.

Enjoy
Louie

L J · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 11:26 am Post subject:

While the Wynton doesn't play flawlessly, the cd is one of the most energetic cds I have.
The documentary is real fun to watch. Wynton: "oh man, I should have practiced more", and "my mouthpiece is terrible".
Familiar problems...

trickg · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 11:48 am Post subject:

I personally like the versions of some of those same songs that he (Wynton) recorded with Edita Gruberova.
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Bozzaman · Veteran Member Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 321

One of my greatest blessings is that I have a mother who sings like an angel. Together we've done "Let the Bright Seraphim," and "Eternal Source of Light Divine." I must say I even drew upon Wynton's performances, using a lot of his embelishments, to help create my own. (Those two are on there, aren't they?) It's a must have, as are all of Wynton's recordings, like him or not.

Many people criticize Wynton for ornamenting in a style unlike the period, but sometimes you just gotta say, "Hey, if you can do it, and you like it, AND it sounds great, go for it." See quote below for better understanding.

Bozzaman

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[ This Message was edited by: Bozzaman on 2003-07-21 15:21 ]

David · Veteran Member Joined: 22 Nov 2002 Posts: 378

I have the CD and could only listen to it once.

Why? Kathleen Battle. She is a wonderful soprano - listen to her Semele recording. Magnificent - I think it won a grammy.

But compared to Wynton she just sounds terrible. This music requires incredible dexterity - which she has - but Wynton frankly eats her lunch - I found it painful listening to her try and keep up.

HEY - this is just MY opinion!
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SongofJoy · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 4:54 am Post subject:

Wow, thanks for all the replies! That video sounds very interesting! I'll keep my eye out for it.

Hey David, do you want to sell your copy??

I missed bidding for it on eBay and the guy said he'd be relisting next week.... I have to wait a whole week!!!

[ This Message was edited by: SongofJoy on 2003-07-22 07:57 ]

riffdawg2000 · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 5:28 am Post subject:

I have it on CD and VHS ... you can probably get them both from AMAZON.

Great set. Matter of fact, I just watched the cideo last week ... I love it!!!
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Joel Thomas

TossedSalad · Veteran Member Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 236

That PBS special was pretty cool. My favorite part was how they showed Kathleen interacting with her mother - that was pretty forced. It's obvious they have a terrible relationship. She is an unbelievable handful.

It's no wonder the BSO stagehands had "I Survived the Battle" T-Shirts made up a few years back after she came and soloed with the orchestra.

TS

P.S. I wonder if Wynton got some?

riffdawg2000 · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2003 7:11 am Post subject:

I think that was before he was married .... AND .... he and Ms. Battle seemed awful 'friendly' with each other ...

I notice that last week when I re-watched the tape ....

PLUS, on the tape, they did 'film' the dinner together at Battle's apartment .... Hmmmmmmmm
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Joel Thomas

trompetita · Regular Member Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 40

Hey... I really like the cd. I have to admit that Wynton sounds a lot better than Battle. Personally, I love the embellishments. My favorite is track 20, the Bach piece. It's gorgeous.

I heard that Kathleen Battle is really hard to work with. If you are her accompianist and you hit one wrong key(even in rehearsal)... you're through. Fired. That is a bit harsh.

I don't think that Wynton is married.

david johnson · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2003 1:07 am Post subject:

i used to have the cd. i thought it was nice, but i just didn't like it enough to keep it.... don't really know why.

dj

SongofJoy · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 6:02 am Post subject:

Yeah, I think most pro sopranos are hard to work with.....
It's totally amazing the difference in the tone of the conversation here and at classical singing forums. Trumpet players are so nice!

blasticore · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 4:32 pm Post subject:

Heh, I have the CD. I was in CD Warehouse a while back with a friend. They picked up some Marylin Manson stuff, and I was the guy who grabbed for Pictures at Exhibition, and the Battle/Marsalis CDs. I made the comment at the counter that these would probably be sitting on the shelf for 4 years before anyone ever looked at them again. The guy behind the counter hit a few keys on the computer and said ",well they've been there for a year and a half already, so you're probably right."
Back on topic, it's a nice CD. I enjoy Marsalis' style, even if some don't for their reasons. If you haven't picked the disc up aleady, I'd recommend it.
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SongofJoy · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2003 4:48 am Post subject:

Wow! Just got the VHS, way cool.

I was watching it when the registered letter from the IRS came in, so I was a bit distracted. (I was 'randomly' selected to have my tax return examined [audited]. And of course it had to be of 2001 taxes. AHHHHH!!!! I thought this kind of thing only happend to old people! *sigh*)

Later,
Carol

trumpetmike · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2003 3:07 pm Post subject:

I don’t want to criticise as great a player as Wynton certainly is, but I must admit to finding this album a little over the top in places.
Both the performers are very good in their chosen fields, but I find the mix not exactly to my taste. I have both the VHS and the CD and I prefer the VHS parts where we are seeing Wynton playing jazz and Kathleen Battle singing in church. They both seem so natural in these environments.
When it comes to the Baroque Duets they seem to think that the idea of baroque music is to embellish it as much as possible. Ornamentation abounds. Much of it (from Wynton) not possible on the instrument for which it was originally written. It seemed that he was just adding in very flashy runs because he can, rather than because they made musical sense.
I am a huge fan of both performers (my Wynton CD collection seems to grow on a weekly basis!) and a major baroque music lover, but for my money, there are better recordings of many of the tracks on this CD available.
Please don’t get me wrong – I do enjoy this album. It has some of the most impressive technical displays of ornamentation on a piccolo you are likely to find. It is just that as I listen to it I crave for the sound of a baroque trumpet, more restrained ornamentation and a double act that sound like they have worked together on all aspects of the performance, not just been put in the recording studio for a few days with an orchestra.
But what do I know? They both earn more than I am ever likely to!

richardwy · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:16 am Post subject:

I know. A 9 year old thread, but I just found the duet on youtube.

There's a documentary by David Miller titled "This Little Light" on Sylvia Olden Lee, Battle's teacher. I Googled quite a bit, and cannot find it -- other than a clip on youtube.

Anyone know where it can be obtained?

Incredible work the duet documentary. Section 6 on Youtube maybe one of the very best things I've seen. Ever.
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wvtrumpet · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:52 am Post subject:

cheiden · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:12 am Post subject:

I'm just so-so about the album. When I watched the video I detected significant friction between the two divas. I could be way off base but I got the impression that Battle wasn't altogether thrilled with either Wynton, his playing, or both. It's also my impression that Battle was a more capable singer in that style than Wynton was, at the time. Not that I mean to to bash Wynton because I dig plenty of his CDs, I just don't think this was his best work or a particularly successful pairing.
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