springgrass speaking as one whose favorite mood is melancholy, I can't wait to hear Yihann tackle these pieces! I'm sure they'll be fantastic as always.

Blair Boone-Migura Hey Blair, this is a great song, and your performance will be a welcome addition to the concert. Its chord pattern admits of so many possibilities for arrangements.  will this be your own arrangement or a composed arrangement by someone else?

Peter Golemme Thank you! It's a song I've loved that song since childhood so I was delighted when a friend included it on his improvjsatoatin set following a mostly Chopin and Poulenc concert. So alas, it is not my own, but a very beautiful arrangement nonetheless. I had the music transcribed since it was an improvisation. 

Blair Boone-Migura can't wait to hear it Blair!

If there is time, I may play an additional piece, the Sarabande from Bach's Partita #2 in C minor. 

Thurmond R I assume so! It would probably just depend on how much time there is!

Thurmond R Thurmond, I for one would absolutely love to hear both those presentations, and I guarantee that others would too.

 Well, Mom really wants to perform the art song she started learning in a tonebase Voice challenge earlier this year! I really hope Thurmond and I can do this together here. The time-frame gives me the time I need to get in a bit more work on some aspects of my German diction (especially those pesky L's!).

Thurmond R That would be amazing! Looking forward to hearing you and your mom! 

Michelle R It is exciting that you and Thurmond are performing together! I didn't know that you  also sang!

By the way, what do you find "pesky" about the German L's? Are there any words in particular? I know that English-speakers tend to struggle with words like "füll"  and "erhellt."

Maria Thanks! I enjoy performing with Thurmond as my pianist, and I love singing! We make music together at church about once a month, and we used to do so on the Voice platform in their community concerts, but the live aspect of that platform no longer exists, unfortunately. 

The tongue moves differently for the American L and the German L (at least within a word), so for example the L in milk and mild is formed differently in the respective language. I can't remember the specifics, but in German (as in many European languages) certain consonants takes their shape from the vowel that precedes it - the American English L has a bit of an "uh" or "eh" before it and the tongue moves back; the tongue for the German L seems to stay flatter and rises up rather than pulling back. I am having to really concentrate to keep my L's more German...I continually default to American English L's which creates what feels like a harder 'stop' when I sing. Especially erhellt, which is at the end of a phrase - the first time I sing it is at the top of a crescendo and I am really struggling with singing through it (the second time, it's in a quick diminuendo and not quite so difficult). 

Michelle R Have you learned Die Forelle?

Michelle R said:
The tongue moves differently for the American L and the German L

Yes, I am aware of that. The German L sound in is called a light L/Helles L. 

The L at the beginning of "light" is a light L, like all L's followed by vowels in English. I am probably not great at providing advice on this but all German L's (except for in some, but not most, Austrian and Swiss dialects/accents) are the same as English L's followed by vowels, if that helps. Also, are you studying German? If not, it would be a good idea since you sing Lieder. 

I have heard that in terms of diction, Erlkönig is hardest for native English-speakers. 

Maria Thanks. This is my first Lied. I generally sing in Latin (or English, if pressed!). I’ve sung a couple of Italian art songs. Once upon a time I spoke enough German to converse with small children (when I was in college, my neighbors were from Germany and I took care of their young children who spoke no English), having studied German in school. I just started vocal lessons last year, not knowing I would fall in love with the raw physicality of singing! Better late than never!

Michelle R Learning German, Italian and French (and Polish, if you play a lot of Chopin) to some extent is generally helpful for classical musicians. 

The mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager is generally considered a good example for Schubert diction. Because she is Austrian, her pronunciation is closer to what Schubert had in mind (but not exactly the same; she is from Salzburg) and her pronunciation doesn't sound "harsh" like some northern German singers, which helps with musical phrasing. 

I also recommend that you and Thurmond learn Die Forelle (which is generally considered easier to sing/pronounce correctly) in the future. 

Kirchschlager's performance of Du bist die Ruh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uXtHH2WqVs

Thank you, Maria . 

Michelle R I hope my recommendations were helpful!

Peter Golemme Looking forward to whatever you play, Peter. It's terrific that you are working on so many pieces.

Michelle R Thanks Michelle.  I've got miles to go before I sleep...