Sting - In Darkness Let Me Dwell
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- Sting sings this ancient song accompanied by a lute.
"In Darkness Let Me Dwell" is discussed before it is sung and the song is described as "possibly the most perfect song ever written in the English language".
Sting's voice well suits the song and he sings it brilliantly with feeling.
Sting may not perform this work as the pundits expect, but Sting still does this piece great justice!
Sting is one of the anomolies of the Music World, since he is prepared to move out of his comfort zone , but as a result, he makes music available to a wider audience than it was originally intended!
and more then that...
well said.
the Jo Dolandi pundits are seething as you quite rightly suggest
In darkness let me dwell; the ground shall sorrow be,
The roof despair, to bar all cheerful light from me;
The walls of marble black, that moist'ned still shall weep;
My music, hellish jarring sounds, to banish friendly sleep.
Thus, wedded to my woes, and bedded in my tomb,
O let me dying live, till death doth come, till death doth come.
In darkness let me dwell
Thanks for sharing this with us 😊
Thank you!
Many people seem to think that this version is "not as good" as others because Sting makes the song sound dark and melancholy. Those people seem to be forgetting that this song is intended to be dark. It most definitely should not sound light-hearted or sweet, as some versions I've heard sound. At least, that's my opinion, for whatever that's worth. I think that Sting has managed to capture the intended feeling of Dowling's original song, and has done so brilliantly.
ABSOLUTELY !!!
"Semper Dowland, semper dolens". That's the way!
I agree with you 100%, and I'm not particularly a fan of Sting but he really caught the mood.
👌🌺👍
Sting's pitch is phenomenal in this, he really emphasizes the semitones
i love the enunciation he has, making every word clear and precise. along with the music, Perfection!
This sends chills down my spine....every time again. This is not 2 musicians playing...this is 2 musicians interpreting and reflecting in music and they match perfectly. It is a breathlessly beautifull version of a bloodstolling classic. Respect for the both of you.... from Flanders...
I've listened to a number of versions of this song here, and this one has definitely something the others don't. First, Sting adds a life I hardly hear in others, but maybe the most stricking feature is the place the luth takes. It's not just here for support, it's the foundation of the entire song. This one is definitely a fave.
Too bad so many narrow minded people just had fun with shooting Sting down. I find this album really interesting and refreshing.
I loved this one. Not only the scenario captures the spirit of the song, as both the lutenist and Sting do, too. I feel you made it both intimate and accessible at once. The lute feels dramatic, played with rhythm and dynamics, like a soloist singing an aria. Sting sings with clarity and really puts emotion in the song. You did really well, as most often the instrument is played mechanically, without any soul, and the voice is really technical but incomprehensible and equally soulless. Even a peasant would do better than many modern musicians/critics, because at least he will interpret it, and put his soul in.
Sting adds not only Life to his interpretation, but also Death...which is the whole point.
the album is more then interesting and refreshing....it is a true Master Piece of two ingenious artists:
EDIN KARAMAZOV and STING !
@@AdlerMow BRAVO !
👌🌺👍
The whole point of Early Music is that it is music driven by emotion - the Renaissance era of music perhaps one of the most emotionally deep eras of music. The composers give simply no marks on the page other than the notes themselves - not even accidentals most of the the time. Thus, the performer has a lot of room for interpretation which is why I love early music and especially original performances such as this one.
Some were mentioning coming from the classical style and how Sting just killed it, but for a tune that was published in an anthology for voice and lute, it should allude that this song was meant for anyone to sing. I think the misjudgment is that today we believe any piece that is deemed from ancient periods must have been sung in a bel canto voice when the reality is many of these tunes were aimed at the general masses. Unless it is part of an opera or a church piece, most likely, these tunes were for regular, unschooled and untrained people to sing; if that is the case, then Sting's voice is perhaps more accurate than someone singing this tune in a classical style. (Though personally, I have never liked Sting's voice, and he does seem a bit melodramatic, lol).
***** Yes, true. I didn't mean to say he's not trained - he's voice is very pop oriented, but some comments were making it seem that his voice was not adequate for this tune, when the reality is no one really knows what "yester-year's" music would have sounded like. Everything is based off of educated theories. As it is w/ piano music, there is such a division about performance interpretations, it's a stifling endeavour. Anyway, good points you brought up. cheers...
L Crosby García Sting's performance is probably truer to the original style. If you look at depictions of singers from Dowland's time and before it is notable that their brows are furrowed in some strain, and their mouths barely open, as if they were speaking rather than singing - rather like Sting in this video.
It is true that Dowland was one of the first to compose for the solo voice, but I don't believe that he had the modern 'classically trained' vocal in mind. Lute and voice were meant to blend into a sonorous contrapuntal whole, neither dominating the other, as if they were a single instrument. Conversely, in the bel canto style, the voice takes the foreground, while the lute is relegated to the status of accompaniment.
Sting does exactly the right thing by singing so plainly, eschewing the vibrato, trills, hand waving, eye-rolling and grimacing, and general bel canto operatic fruitiness that other artistes have employed.
+hdholl Considering us musicologists spend a lot of time researching and attempting to validate the historicity of performance, text, style, interpretation, cultural & social influences, etc., our 'wild guesses' would still be more accurate than what your idea of 'pure' art should be. In any case, I did mention to another responder that it is true that we will never know w/ 100% accuracy the things of the past; but trained music & historical researchers can at least make educated 'conjectures', like you call them. Your tastes, opinions, and preferences are just that - yours.
+L Crosby García We agree, don’t we? I have great respect for musicologists and their research. The closer they/you can get to the truth, the better. But the pursuit for historical accuracy is one thing, the quest for musical beauty another. Sometimes they go together and the one intensifies the other (like playing Bach on the period instruments of Harnoncourt’s Concentus Musicus), sometimes they clash and create ugliness (like playing Beethoven on rickety 18/19th C piano - I played a few bars on his own piano in Bonn - terrible). Sting also creates ugliness (to my ears, indeed) because of his terrible voice, not even because he is ‘historical’ (which I doubt). If he hadn’t been famous he probably wouldn’t have found a record company for this. Glenn Gould (and A. Hewitt) on the other hand, with all his historical knowledge, preferred playing Bach on a Steinway grand (without however using the pedal in respect for the polyphony) to create beauty and perfection (to my ears, again). Anyway: 'de la musique avant toute chose', as Paul Verlaine said. To you and all musicologists: keep up the good work!
hdholl True; however, I've come to the realization everything becomes an individual and/or a cultural preference, including the definition of "beauty".
I llike the creative way he sings the line "hellish jarring sounds" with a cacophony and dissonance. It really exampifies the expression of the line.
After listening to this song years ago last year I decided to perform the song and I have to say it was not an easy piece as a singer to sing. If you look at the sheet music for this one you can see that literally there are two melodies the singers and the accompaniment and they are like jarring sounds they clash and follow there own rhythm as a singer I was by myself usually accompaniment helps me keep tempo and keep the pace. Nope not this one it was the hardest one I have done and I loved performing it none of it would have been possible if Sting wasn't my role model for music ,great song it was worth the challenge
Nicely put! Bravo and best wishes! ❤️ 🙏
Sting is a modern musician but changes up musical style every handful of years like Paul Simon and U2. His depth includes reggae, classic and the classic police stuff. He admits he is a poor imitator of John Dowland but he has taught himself how to play a 24 string lute and has assisted lots of people to enjoy John Dowland for the first time. I think John Dowland would appreciate the effort
agree ! Stings raw &sensual voice is a great treat for Jazz & Rock/Pop , yet ppl are not used to hearing him sing John-DowLand-songs .
And yet , tHere is a Mystery in his voice .. an undercurrent , that blends beautifully with the music . Dig deeper , folks !
particularly because it is much more then an effort.
@@naneeleo823 not everyone can dig deeper....
he does an incredible job with this song!! way to go sting!!
.
🤔
Sting does it again, and allows us to hear the wonderful roots to that which we are listening to today, and the bards sung so many years ago. I find that Sting's voice comes through wonderfully during the playing of the lute by Dowland. I am truly mesmerized by this era of Sting's performances with Lutist Dowland, as well his his own playing of the arch lute. What a wonderful part of musical history we are taking part of.
LutePlayer s name is Edin Karamazov :)
Composer is John Dowland (16th century)
Let's not confuse people: the lutist is EDIN KARAMAZOV who created this incredible album with Sting.... and JOHN DOWLAND is a composer from the late Elizabethan Era.
Every piece of music is open to interpretation and respect to the interpreter if they pay homage the original intent.
I like it.
without any doubt, Sting's best record...
.
🤔
When I'm depressed, I choose this genre of music over country any day. As well as songs by Henry Purcell such as "The Cold Song" and "Death". Henry Purcell and John Dowland were great composers, and their compositions are ones to treasure a lifetime long.
Sade's early music hits me in the same spot
I love Andreas Scholl 's
interpretations of Dowland
and Purcell . . . .
♡
Brilliant! I Love Listening To This In My 16th Century Castle.
This song comes from my own life and soul.
Sting makes this introspective song something of his own.
yeah, very deep, introspective, ... and spiritual...
open up this song in 2 tabs and try listening to it at the same time with the videos only 1 or 2 seconds apart. IT'S MAGICAL!!!!
My friend, that was genius! I put them 1 second apart, and the harmonies and counterpoint they produced were simply amazing. Such eeriness and melancholy!
.
😃
👍
Ohhh very coool! Listening now, 9 years later to just what you suggested!
You are so right
I am coming late to the party but as they say, better late than never. Wow! I agree with a previous comment about these songs being written to be sung by the common man and woman but there is nothing common about this duo. Fantastic!
What an amazing composition. Powerful stuff, no matter who sings it. I'm in awe.....
That is a very nice jacket....
Je suis bouleversée de tant de profondeur et de beauté !
What a wonderful suggestion as to how it may be originally performed. My Ancestor Sior John Skene actually knew John Dowland because he worked for James VI or 1
Haunting, beautiful, incredible!
I agree. Its so nice to hear such an unusual slant and boy does it work. I have to put any negative feelings to one side I may have about Sting and admit this is fabulous, dark and brooding . This is most powerful and moving, incredible infact.
chills through my whole body. Sting's best album in my opinion. WOW
AGREE !
.
🤔
I think this is simply wonderful.
There are no words for its melancholy beauty.
Thats really burning music.
Deepest interpretation !!! Bravo Sting !
I consider this a great and emotional version. We have to put music first, even when "philology" may not be followed at the maximum. In addition, this approach by Sting surely led people to know this music
👌🌺👍
I do admire Sting for his musicality. When I listen to his singing here with my classical ears on, it's rather a pain, judged from the values of art in classical singing. But, after all, he's building a bridge here, and I deeply acknowledge that. I'm singing mostly classical and do some Heavy Metal in between, so I do support the crossover. Music is human and global, when it's good.
A. von Uri, Switzerland
Music from paper . So many hats off, rendition of the forgotten.
Finally!
Finally, someone is singing the words instead of the supporting notes.
Thank you @JasonMasters
🤔
I thought it is about both . . . .
🎶
I was surprised to find this to be my favourite version of the song, even after scouring the depths of RUclips
Agree completely Alek....this is....outstanding
No wonder...
.
🤔
frissons ...demesure et dignité !
exceptional i really deeply enjoyed 1
Man! This guy managed to encapsulate clinical depression into only six lines!
Brilliant!
I LOVE these songs and these musicians...
As Matthew E hinted, the song was written in an era when emotional music was the fashion. I think this music dates from the time when the old tragedy classic "babes in the wood" became (in)famous. This song follows a similar theme by expressing despair instead of triumph.
a song full lonleyness, of ´great dispair, performed with the most intensitivity and passion. thx sting, who I admire and who' s concert in Kassel I could not join. - Keep tuned and be so kind!
Lots of comments debating whether Sting's performance is technically correct - to me what matters is this performance is really interesting to listen to.
I've listened to a number of more classical performances and none of them make this song at once as memorable, interesting and engaging as Sting's.
My God that is so beautiful!, and the Archlute is such a lovely soft and beautiful sound. Many thanks. Gérard lacey in Ireland. X.
My nephew died... and we buried him on top of my son... I know this darkness very well!!...
But I don't dwell there, for long... I'm constantly bathing in The Light of Yeshua!!! He is my Salvation from grief!!!......☝
Kudos to Sting for introducing Dowland to his audience. As far as his performance, there's nothing at all wrong with box wine. I just hope that his fans don't let the haughtiness in some classical fans' reactions to it stop them short of developing a taste for fine wine.
its funny how people will disregard sting entirely, considering we have no recordings of what people sounded like in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Perhaps singers did take this approach? As some other viewers said, i do enjoy the heightened drama Sting brings by speaking the text emphatically. Personally, i admire (and prefer) Hargis's interpretation for its crystalline acuity and superb ensemble. But why should that prevent sting from presenting his two cents?
I love Andreas Scholl 's
interpretations of Dowland . . .
.
I greatly appreciate Sting's effort to keep this timeless music relevant for today! 🖤🖤🖤
If you're interested: Check out our contemporary electrified version of "In Darkness": ruclips.net/video/FQxW_2CI5yE/видео.html 🎸
Dang, this performance really brings out everything about this song that strikes us as jarringly modern. It's a 400+-year-old song, but Sting's attention to timbre makes it sound very up to date, in a way that more conventional performances don't.
The only performance I've heard that's as good as/more moving than this is by Mark Padmore, and that's high praise.
REALLY LIKE THIS VERSION
Great lute playing
Nice to see him cover this
A quote of my friend upon hearing this "Oh Sting, where is thy death?"
One of the FUNNIEST things I have ever read. Well played indeed kris.
Well, Kris. You’ve had 7 years with few comments. Hardly worth it Really.
No doubt by now you have your own “ Superior Version”, On Record And Ready
for us to hear. I look forward to it !.
@@johnfenner347 Ha, Ha !
ask your friend where is his ?
A few years ago me, my dad, and brother in-law saw these two doing a song on PBS together, Actually, I think it was this very song. But anyway, Ever since then I've seen Mr. Karamazov several times, performing everything from Dowland to Bach, very well I might add. It was very suprising to hear Mr. Karamazov say it couldn't be compared to anything and it's his favorite.
Why not...Edin is very sensitive and deep person...with misterious Slavic soul...
@@simonidastankovic2627 I agree, indeed you are quite right. I simply meant that at the time I was somewhat surprised that of all the music that Edin knows and knows of and is familiar with, it was this song that made the biggest impact on him and struck him the most. There is so much music in the world that is beautiful, expressive and passionate, but it would seem that perhaps he found these lyrics to be particularly relatable to himself, as do many other people I'm sure. I know I do.
Love It!
Magnífico
You're right, you don't come off as haughty at all.
Un immense plaisir offert par Sting en compagnie de The Police comme dans le domaine solo!
He is quite the renaissance man. Pun is very much intended.
REALLY fine arrangement.
Have Sting's Labyrinth album, Karamazov is an outstanding lutinist, and Sting has brought this music to the attention of a wider audience. I like the interpretation by Ellen Hargis also on you tube. personal preference, not to deminish Sting.
Karamazov collaborates now
with german countertenor
Andreas Scholl , who is the best .
♡
Listen to this unforgettable song on Faire, Sweet, Cruell, Elizabethan Songs performed by Christina Hogman. In fact, the entire recording is exquisite.
.
👍
Love Dowland. His seeming penchant for melancholy reflects his life and his times. Really have enjoyed Sting's explorations in Labyrinth & elsewhere. "The Seaven Teares" melodic sequence nicely resembles Hijaz in Near Eastern music. Dowland was reportedly NOT a depressed person, in spite of the slings and arrows partly due to his Catholic identity.
Hilarious conversation, including the gem "I've always maintained that silence is the perfect music"
Good effort though - doing these songs :) Love a bit of Dowland
And he said it right.....Silence....proves that he is real Musician and very spiritual man.
Dowland is so beautifull that even this interpretation cannot ruin it.
al or how else would a new generation who never otherwise would have heard it, hear it?...i appreciate the effort, knocked my socks off when it came out last decade
Perfection of perfomance.
Ах-ринеть , как здорово ! ))) *
wonderful
rock'n roll ce "hellish jarring sounds" !
Braviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Edin Karamazov & Sting. "In Darkness Let Me Dwell" by
John Dowland it is fantastic. ~
ТАКО ЈЕ ДРАГИЦЕ...ОВО ЈЕ БРЕ ГЕНИЈАЛНО !!! ДОУЛАНД СЕ ТОПИ ОД СРЕЋЕ У РАЈУ !
elizabrths favourite musician john Dowland ,on which she hit the dance floor with Robert dudley...
I love how the lutenist looks like he's making love to the lute. He also looks like a young Snape
yes, a bit silly at times
@@briancrowley6413 It's would only be silly if it were faked for effect. But it's not faked, it's completely genuine.
Gentle and beautiful harmonies are really beautiful. How do you complete the way of singing that pierces the core thinly? Is it a talent you were born with? I love
So fantastic, it brings me back to those medeival times and if I close my eyes, I feel like I'm somewhere in 16 century....
“…silence is the perfect music….” Indeed it is….as the space bears the sound of perfectionism….I guess this is what happens if we feel it instead of listening…
I would honestly appreciate reading a meaningful critical comment on this, but most of the critics (even the condescendingly approving ones) seem to be writing with an assumption that there is a "correct classical voice/method" for this kind of music - which is very dubious not only historically but philosophically as well.
Even if a composition was indeed written with a particular kind of performance in mind, that doesn't de-merit different performances - e.g. Bach never wrote for piano but that doesn't stop us from enjoying Bach on piano.
So what's exactly inherently good or bad about this performance would be far more interesting to read than how it differs from "the proper classical way".
John Dowland i Sting to świetnie brzmi.
Sting singing Dowland ---- Now I'm convinced
STINGING DOWLAND !
@danablett what i think he means by "the counterpoint is very awkward, eerie, mysterious" is the way that the harmonic relationship between the 2 instruments constantly change on a note per note basis and in a fairly non traditional way... lets not forget that the definition of counterpoint is "point to point" i can totally understand what he is saying. I don't see how you don't get this... ive been to your channel, ive watch some videos, you are smart and talented. Why bother picking on Sting?
Great version by Sting. I had a go at updating Dowland myself earning a slightly stuffy response from those in the classical world but entertaining those in blues world. Enjoyed myself, learned a lot and still love listening the original pieces played by early music buffs. If you're interested in my attempts on blues slide guitar then go to my carsickphil channel and see what you think. There's a version of Mr Dowland's Midnight and Orlando Sleepeth available among my videos.
Oh Sting I do like you, and your voice is undeniably interesting in this early work, but oh god please watch your vowels.
Uhu... Different. Nice barrels! :)
WOW!! I never hear this song. It's Wonderfull !! Great lirycs.
Check out other interpretations
of it . . . .
🎶
Wow
Where are the lyrics? I cant figure some of them out and need to know them all.
Sting is OK on this record but got DAMN karamazov played the hell outta that thing!!!
No wonder Karamazov collaborates
with Andreas Scholl now.
It is definitly the better choice !
.
accompanied by "a lute?" does it play itself..? maybe give some credit to the other artist making this possible....
to EDIN KATAMAZOV, legendary lutist from ExYugoSlavia...
IMÁDOM!!!!!
The artist field should also list Dowland, just as every song released by Brittany should have had the composer prominently written all over the place. Dowland is mentioned but should be on equal footing with Sting.
I personally prefer "Come again" in this album, but Sting always thrills. Just in tempo, just in mood: "Semper Dowland, semper dolens".
sting flexing off to their mediocre sting fans is the funniest thing I've ever seen or heard. I remember seeing this in TV when it originally aired. pretty damn amazing. But come on hey, now the sting fans think he's a god of music or something
Drinking game: take a drink every hair flip
drinking game Sting has no hair
@dconn445 Thank for correcting me...
"In darkness let me dwell" Sounds like a happy song to me! (I'm being very sarcastic)
Perfect from a marriage, or a birth, obviously
Could you give me several examples of "other level of musical enjoyment"?
I've got a 60s recording by Peter Pears, his voice is more pure but sounds quite sanitised. I really like this alternative interpretation. It is a strange song, full of assonance and certainly not cheerful. About being in deep depression I suppose.
Where is this?
I want that theorbo
@JasonMasters Dowling or Dowland?