Swingle singers performed "Trois chansons" ( C. Debussy) 1 - Die, qu'il la fait bon regarder; 2 - Quant j'ai oy le tabourin; 3 - Yver, vous n'estes qu'un villain.
I was pleasantly surprised that it worked better at a fast tempo because Debussy's Impressionist style comes out way more clearly through the voice-leading
Beg to disagree. There are precisely as many Debussys as there are choirs who sing Debussy. They all bring something unique and wonderful to their interpretations, which is what makes choral music so fascinating.
@fznbaritone I love Cambridge Singers and John Rutter but I totally do not understand your comment. Swingle singers are not jazz singers. They are superb classical singers who happened to get a good gig singing a lot of classically arranged popular music but also classical music. I am a choral conductor and I do not hear that it is sloppy. It is beautiful and very musical.
@choral25 I apologize. What was typed is not how I truly feel about this. It is musical and it is well in tune, I just don't picture this trilogy with the breathy quality that they've applied here. I understand the choice with regards to mood and forwarding Debussy's approach, but I think there can be more done with phrasing and articulation than with tone color - although it adds to it. I don't think this recording is sloppy - it is quite clear. I love them a lot, just not this interpretation.
@fznbaritone sorry but I am not agree.. yesterday evening I had seen a fantastic show, here in Italy, by The Swingle singers and they are fantastic in classical and in pop and jazz music.. thay have done an incredible show from Corelli and Bach pieces to Debussy and Piazzolla to jazz and pop! They are great in classical music like in jazz.. listen to their classical arrangement and then tell me!
Eh, looks like old comments have been deleted, and I can't remember what I said some years ago. However, what you say about France being the object of the rondeau is one possible metaphorical interpretation (along with the possibility that Charles d'Orleans was writing about poetry as a his perfect mistress). That's on one level. On the other, more immediate level remains the obvious courtly idealisation of The Woman *and* the Virgin Mary (Charles's poetry was regarded as the apogee of the French courtly tradition, after all).
@losubri21 Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the Swingle Singers. I have their Around the World album and have their Bach and Mozart cds as well. Some are well done, others not so. You're allowed to have your opinion, but I don't care for groups (in general mind you) that have a great breathy jazz tone, but try that same approach to classical music. Some arrangements I can tolerate because they do something different with the piece, but others just don't work. Great group, just not their best.
Cambridge Singers are much better and clearer. I don't like it when groups who excel in jazz sing classical music with the same approach. It is sloppy and just doesn't fit the style. Sorry.
