Stand up straight and singh song
A charming memoir written by one of the world s greatest opera divas This book is probably of interest to those who have enjoyed Jessye Norman s performances and recordings than it is to someone without that interest However her life as a black woman who was born and raised in Georgia gives many insights into how some black communities coped and managed to thrive in spite of segregation and racism 336 2. Book stand up straight and sing sing 5 starsJessye Norman what a voice what a talent what intelligence I ll be honest I expected to love her memoir since I have admired her musical talent for many years now as one of the great voices and opera talents to come out of the 20th century Make no mistake not everyone with a great voice has the acting talent to do opera and she had both plus a fabulous natural instrument It was also interesting on the heels of reading A Raisin in the Sun that Norman originally planned to become a doctor but it was after she was offered a full tuition scholarship at Howard to study music that her mother nudged her slightly that way and as wonderful as she may have been as a doctor she gave so much to so many through her voice sung and spoken. Stand up even if it means standing alone While there were things I really was happy to read about I think I was looking for of a biography and time spent on her voice training and musical career and less on her spiritualist religious views her philosophy of life and a few other things I expected to read about racism especially in the US since she grew up during Jim Crow in the south for one thing and I thought she handled this with dignity I like that she didn t drop names when she brought up negative experiences with individuals not into gossip However I thought it very telling that in her photo of her singing spiritual with soprano Kathleen Battle that she calls her her colleague and not her friend I wonder if they weren t friends or if this was due to the reputation Battle garnered for herself and I have no idea if Battle s reputation was warranted since I have never met her Of course I will still enjoy hearing recordings of her singing 336 I cannot tell a lie I was extremely disappointed with this memoir I was looking forward to so much I do commend her for her honesty about the racism she endured and that exists in the classical music field But surely she could have given the reader greater insight into her craft and the epic journey upon which she embarked to become one of the finest musical artists of our time Perhaps someone else will tell her story convincingly in the future 336 I love Ms Norman and it is by no means a bad book but I wanted gossip There wasn t much of it 336 4. Stand up straight and sing book analysis 5 5 I ve always admired Jessye s singing and I love reading about her life and journey through the operatic world This was quite the motivational read especially during summer where my drive for practicing varies I highly suggest this to singers of every age and voice but very useful for dramatic sopranos 336 One of America s most admired and decorated artists tells her amazing story from her childhood in the South to the world s greatest stages Jessye Norman is not only one of the world s most admired and beloved singers she is an American icon whose life story is as moving and dramatic as the great operatic roles she has performed on stage Born and raised in Augusta Georgia nurtured in a close family and tight knit community centered around the church she studied the piano and sang the songs of her childhood not dreaming that this passion for music might lead to her life s profession In Stand Up Straight and Sing Jessye Norman recalls in rich detail the strong women who were her role models from her ancestors to family friends relatives and teachers She hails the importance of her parents in her early learning and experiences in the arts And she describes coming face to face with racism not just as a child living in the segregated South but also as an adult out and about in the world. Stand up even if it means standing alone She speaks of the many who have inspired her and taught her essential life lessons A special interlude on her key relationship with the pioneering African American singer Marian Anderson reveals the lifelong support that this great predecessor provided through her example of dignity and grace at all times The story of one woman s astonishing life Stand Up Straight And Sing is not just for lovers of music but for everyone Stand Up Straight and Sing I was delighted to discover that Jessye Norman had written a memoir and was not disappointed by what she had to say She uses language well so the book has a pleasant sound to it She is a perfectionist and a strong achiever causing me to expect perfection in her book She might have achieved that with a tough editor who would have corrected her punctuation For anyone who appreciates opera this book tells a wonderful story of not just Jessye but of the people and culture of that art I consider Jessye Norman to be one of if not the most interesting performer and personality that I have seen 336 Oh how I loved this book The writing flows the chapters are well separated into topics and we get a glimpse into the life of one of the best sopranos that ever graced us with her voice and presence I really liked the length at which the author speaks about her childhood her stage performances her repertoire the people in her life and her inspiration I admire the fact that the author accepts that she is in a sense the product of a series of very fortunate events had she had other parents other teachers other neighbors etc her life would have been so different this is not stated overtly but rather a conclusion one can draw from the book All too often people say that all that matters is sheer work and determination but history tells us another story most artists had either a patron or a family who supported them in reaching their potential and mastering their craft but I digress. Stand up straight and singkick I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the great Jessye Norman as a person and as an artist 336 If you imagine a book by Jessye Norman to be smooth classy and elegant this book does not disappoint It starts out telling of her humble beginnings in Augusta Georgia She covers the values and lessons instilled in her by her parents and community It exemplifies the advantages of growing up in a close knit all black neighborhood For those of us of a certain age and who grew up in rural or southern areas these lessons and situations were wonderfully familiar and brought up pleasant memories I especially liked how Ms Norman did not shy away from racism or her many experiences with it and how she used superior knowledge of the subject poise and control to win battles When she didn t win she eleminated the subjects from her life An example would be the Opera house that paid her less than the male singer Once she fould out she never performed for said group again Ms Norman was not shy to speak up One of my favorite instances was on page 257 I was working with a conductor who was new to me and who stated that singers experienced than I would take breaths in various places within the phrases I replied that given how Mozart had written the score and how the text was constructed I thought breaths in the middle of the phrase to be inappropriate Moreover I had the breath control to sing the aria as it was written I think he thought I was being a silly up start but I was not bothered by his attitude or suggestions and performed the phrases as Mozart wrote them. Stand up straight and sing epub full version I still do It may seem oxymoronic to say someone is feisty confident and also gracious and humble but all these adjectives are appropriate For a glance at a different world the life of a black opera star and a life lived with poise and grace pick up this book Favorite Quotesp 221 Growth in one s craft is essential Life can be a marvelous teacher it can tell you so much about what it is that you as a singer are charged with truly offring to your audirnce While we can lose the youthful energy and the natural ability to make those twenty turns as a ballerina or sing a very long phrase in one breath if we are lucky we gaib courage to take a little bit time or try a diffirent interpretation of something familiar These are new ideas that come from living I have said that I want to keep getting better and this is certainly my aim I want to be as good as I can be always 336 Jessye Norman has long been a favourite singer of mine Her warm enveloping voice carries music to my ears that resonates deep within me Wagner Strauss and much Her memoir proves that her heart is as warm and enveloping as her voice She speaks of important moments in her career of inspirational people in her life of the importance of family and culture and heritage Her kind heart allows her to share some negative stories but she mentions no names in these instances She writes movingly of her experiences of racism but remains positive Her approach to life will be of value to her many admirers but also to all who approach life positively and those who want to know from others how to overcome adversity She has become a treasure of humanity through her musicality and her book underwrites this evaluation of her importance. Pdf stand up straight and sing free download Jessye Norman se warm ryk stem het my al veel plesier verskaf Haar memoire bevestig haar grootsheid as persoon Haar vertellings oor haar loopbaan is ontroerend omdat sy so sterk haar dankbaarheid uitspreek omtrent haar geluk Haar familie en sosiale kultuur is vir haar uiters belangrik Sy skryf ontstellend oor haar ervarings van rassisme maar haar positiewe benadering tot die lewe sublimeer die potensi le negatiwiteit Hierdie boek demonstreer haar status as lewende skat van die mensdom 336 Listening to the CD called Les chemins d amour by Jessye Norman made me study French as the lyrics of the songs were printed in French only It was the texts yes BUT it was the voice of the singer the interpretation of the lyrics that made me listen to all available music sung by her Ms Norman has given concerts in Finland too but it was prior to my knowledge of her What a pity I was happy to find one Finn Martti Talvela mentioned in the book Along with music and her work Ms Norman writes about many important social subjects in the world Still I prefer listening to her singing to reading a memoir 336
Jessye Norman was an American opera singer and recitalist She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles but refused to be limited to that voice type She was a commanding presence on operatic concert and recital stages associated with roles including Beethovens Leonore Wagners Sieglinde and Kundry Cassandre and Didon by Berlioz and Bart ks Judith The New York Times music critic Edward Rothstein described her voice as a grand mansion of sound and wrote that it has enormous dimensions reaching backward and upward It opens onto unexpected vistas It contains sunlit rooms narrow passageways cavernous halls.
Book stand up straight and sing pdf Norman trained at Howard University the Peabody Institute and the University of Michigan Her career began in Europe Jessye Norman was an American opera singer and recitalist She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles but refused to be limited to that voice type She was a commanding presence on operatic concert and recital stages associated with roles including Beethoven s Leonore Wagner s Sieglinde and Kundry Cassandre and Didon by Berlioz and Bart k s Judith The New York Times music critic Edward Rothstein described her voice as a grand mansion of sound and wrote that it has enormous dimensions reaching backward and upward It opens onto unexpected vistas It contains sunlit rooms narrow passageways cavernous halls.
Stand up straight and sing book online Norman trained at Howard University the Peabody Institute and the University of Michigan Her career began in Europe where she won the ARD International Music Competition in Munich in 1968 which led to a contract with the Deutsche Oper Berlin Her operatic d but came as Elisabeth in Wagner s Tannh user after which she sang as Verdi s Aida at La Scala in Milan She made her first operatic appearance in the U.
Stand up even if it means standing alone S in 1982 with the Opera Company of Philadelphia when cast as Jocasta in Stravinsky s Oedipus rex and as Dido in Purcell s Dido and Aeneas She went on to sing leading roles with many other companies including the Metropolitan Opera the Lyric Opera of Chicago the Paris Opera and the Royal Opera London She sang at the second inauguration of Ronald Reagan at Queen Elizabeth II s 60th birthday celebration in 1986 and performed the La Marseillaise to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution on July 14 1989 She sang at the 1996 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Atlanta and for the second inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1997.
Stand up straight and singing song Norman sang and recorded recitals of music by Franz Schubert Johannes Brahms Richard Strauss Gustav Mahler Ernest Chausson and Francis Poulenc among others In 1984 she won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo the first of five Grammy Awards that she would collect during her career Apart from several honorary doctorates and other awards she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award the National Medal of Arts the L gion d honneur and was named a member of the British Royal Academy of Music In 1990 UN Secretary General Javier P rez de Cu llar named her Honorary Ambassador to the United Nations site_link.
