The final three songs from my RCS recording session

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I have uploaded my, recently learnt, English folk song for you to listen to.  It’s called O Waly, Waly an arrangement by Benjamin Britten.

I love folk songs and have to select two folk songs to perfect in my next academic year.  Some of my favourites are:

1. The Three Ravens
2. Sweet Nightingale
3. The Trees they Grow So High
4. Skye Boat Song
5. She moved through the fair (although I was told off at my last festival as it’s “really a man’s folk song”).

Do you have any favourite folk songs that you can suggest I look up?

I have also loaded Amor Commanda from Handel’s ‘Floridante’, at this point in the Opera Timante (my character) and Floridante have successfully escaped captivity and Timante sings this song to confirm his love to his beloved Rosanne.

My final recording is Do Not Go My Love by Richard Hageman.  My interpretation of the poem is that the narrator is too frightened to fall asleep in case her lover leaves during her slumber.

To play them just select the song title using the media player on the right hand sidebar :)   ( if you are using a smart phone the player will be under the post ).

108 thoughts on “The final three songs from my RCS recording session”

  2. O Waly Waly is a top favourite of mine and I particularly enjoyed the amor commanda. How about the Handel song, Did You Not Hear My Lady? I suppose it is a man’s song too.

    Reply

    1. I will have a listen to the song in the morning and see if there is an arrangement for a soprano vocal and piano, thanks for the suggestion and if you have any folk songs that you can add to my list please let me know.

      Charlotte

      Reply

  6. “Lord Franklin” is always one of my favorites. Never sure whether it is sung from a man’s or a woman’s perspective, though I think it resembles most a love song….

    Reply

    1. Thanks Simon for your suggestion I will definitely have a listen. if you have any other songs that I could add to my list please let me know.
      Come back soon 🙂
      Charlotte

      Reply

  7. hi there! Thank you for stopping by my blog and selecting to follow me. I appreciate your time. Your life looks full and exciting. I am now following your blog.See you again soon!
    Thanks, Cathy Milne

    Reply

  9. Hi Charlotte. I’ve always enjoyed John McCormack’s singing of Irish folk songs (if you’re interested in music sung by tenors as well). There is one in particular, but I can’t recall the name at the moment. A bit of trivia: once James Joyce entered a singing contest, but lost to McCormack. Best of luck to you in your career.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your suggestion I will check out some of the songs that he performed and see if I can get the music arrangements for a soprano. I have sung “She walks through the fair” which is song originally for the male voice but it is often performed now by women. It has a lovely haunting lilt to it when performed with an Irish accent which I practiced with my maths teacher from school who was from Northern Ireland. If the title comes to you please let me know.

      My very best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

      2. Hi Jack, thanks for reminding me of this song it was one of the first folk songs that I learnt and sits really well on my voice 🙂

        Best wishes
        Charlotte

      4. No unfortunately, I will have to do a reprise of the song next year and see if I can get some more recording time so I can post it here.

        Best wishes
        Charlotte

    1. Thanks for visiting, I sang the “Skye Boat Song” during one of the last festivals that I competed in but unfortunately you can not record the performances. I was grateful to Danielle DiDanato for helping me organise the recording session at the RCS and for her fabulous accompaniment on the songs. I am glad you enjoyed the performances and when I get some more I will post them here.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Thanks for coming over and for following my journey. I noticed on your blog that you also play rhythm guitar as well as writing and I hope that you continue to enjoy both 🙂

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  12. Love O Waly. We learned to sing this when I was in grade school. It’s hauntingly beautiful piece and you sing it so well. Thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kurt, as one of the first people to join me on my journey by following my blog I really appreciate your comment. Having visited your own blog on many occasions I have found you pieces very informative and a great help.

      I wish that we had sung folk songs in school but my love of singing them came through participation in music festivals.
      My very best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  14. You have a lovely voice Charlotte. Good wishes to you in your endeavors. Thanks for the visit, the like of my post “A Look Inside a Peony” and deciding to follow me,

    Reply

    1. Thanks for your lovely words of support, I am hoping to record some more songs later in the year and these current songs will allow me to measure my improvement as I progress through my course.
      I hope that you visit again soon and I will just have to settle for virtual cookies in this digital world 🙂
      Charlotte

      Reply

  17. Charlotte, you have a lovely voice and enough determination to follow your dream – good for you! I too love folk songs, but most of all I love the obscure ones that you hear in the local bar in small Irish or Scottish villages.

    Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting Mary. I do love to explore some of the older folk songs which you get to hear in the music festivals that I have performed in.

      Best wishes and come back again soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

  18. Thanks for posting your recordings, I enjoyed listening.

    Other than the ones you’ve listed, the only folk song I know from your part of the world would be “Dance Ti Thy Daddy”. My father sung it to me when I was small, as well as the Skye Boat Song – thought I don’t remember them fondly. I suspect he sung them because he liked boats and fishing and little to do with the heavier cultural meaning.
    You might risk getting told off again if you sung it, though you could argue it could be sung from a mother’s perspective.

    Getting told off for singing male folk songs? (haha, it seems quaint in a modern age). I guess it is important, in a way. Folk songs go to the heart of a tradition and soon enough that tradition is touching on some fairly sacred things. I hope the people who told you weren’t too harsh. On the other hand these are modern times and women singing male songs often brings something new out of the lyrics. I’ve heard men sing female songs that sound better than the originals, why shouldn’t it work the other way round?

    It’d also be unrealistic to think that when these songs were new, that people didn’t sing them as they pleased, either. She Moved Through the Fair is very old. I imagine life back then wouldn’t have had the luxury of too many enforced cultural demands outside of official life; first as a function of old Irish culture, which records show to be remarkably more socially advanced than modern society; and second simply because time alive could be short.

    Reply

  19. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your recordings. In particular I liked Do Not Go My Love and Widmung (which I knew previously from the Liszt transcription). I’ve been listening to more lieder recently as a way of improve my melodic playing on piano, so I’m glad to have stumbled across your blog.

    Reply

    1. Hi Nick, I really love performing Lieder as it is a true partnership between the pianist and the singer. Thanks for dropping by and please come back again soon 🙂

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  20. Love the additional songs added recently Charlotte, I particularly like listening to you sing The Trees they grow so high whilst watching you acting through the lyrics. I also like O Waly Waly, it’s the first time I’ve heard that one and I like it.

    Reply

    1. Hi Patricia, thanks for dropping by as I do appreciate art in it’s many forms. I studied textile art at school and loved to work with a wide variety of materials when designing my pieces. I like to read blogs like yours for a bit of inspiration 🙂

      Best wishes and come back soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

  24. Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog and following. Although I am a writer, I am also a singer and sang O Waly, Waly for my grade 8, so it’s a big coincidence you uploaded that song for when I first encounter your blog! A beautiful voice for a beautiful song, I’ve followed back 🙂
    Fran

    Reply

  25. You have a lovely voice. I love folksongs, and particularly ones that tell a story with a bit of a twist or sting in the tail…. I’m more used to singing in Welsh than English, but you could try The Brisk Butcher, or Queen Eleanor’s Confession. I love Llangollen Market, which is a Welsh folksong with Engish or Welsh lyrics. I also like Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy, but I suppose that’s more for a male voice (doesn’t stop me performing it!). Enjoy your singing. Thanks for popping by my 52weeksof creations blog – you might also like my other one, iggandfriends.:)

    Reply

    1. Hi there, thanks for the advice and the suggested folk songs I shall research them all over the Summer. I am appearing in the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod for this first time in July and I am really looking forward to it. I will keep a look out for some of the traditional songs performed during the event. Did you ever go to the Eisteddfod when you lived in Wales?

      Come back again soon
      Charlotte

      Reply

  26. “Lo did it thus come to pass that an angel was sent to infuse such a beautiful frequency back into world….”

    Thanking You for Sharing your Gift and Visiting My Rewiring……..

    Blessings..

    Teira.

    Reply

  27. Hi Charlotte, I’m enjoying your blog and especially liked Per la Gloria and Oh Waly Waly. I think serendipitously we were meant to connect, for my son is also studying classical vocals in Chicago. Thanks for following me, I’m going to follow you too. All the best on your vocal journeys!

    Reply

    1. Hi Michelle, thanks for finding me 🙂 What voice type does your son have ? I hope that our paths do cross in the future as I would dearly love to perform in the USA.

      Keep in touch
      Charlotte

      Reply

  28. Charlotte, thanks for liking our post! We were very enthused to find your blog, and your rendition of “O Waly Waly” is gorgeous. We also love “The Three Ravens,” which we discovered through Andreas School. Best of luck to you!

    Reply

    1. Thanks Todd, “The Three Ravens” is a particular favorite of mine ever since the first time that I performed it in the folk class of a music festival, but that is another story …

      Hope to see you here again soon
      Charlotte 🙂

      Reply

      1. from the net:VERSE 1: A LONELY YOUNG WIFE, IN HER DREAMING DISCERNS,
        A LILY-DECKED POOL WITH A BORDER OF FERNS
        AND A BEAUTIFUL CHILD, WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS,
        TRIPS DOWN TO THE EDGE OF THE WATER AND SINGS,

        CHORUS: COME, MAMMA. COME. QUICK FOLLOW ME.
        STEP OUT ON THE LEAVES OF THE WATER LILY.

        VERSE 2: AND THE LONELY YOUNG WIFE, HER HEART BEATING WILD,
        CRIES, WAIT TILL I COME, TILL I REACH YOU MY CHILD
        BUT THE BEAUTIFUL CHILD, WITH BUTTERFLY WINGS
        STEPS OUT ON THE LEAVES OF THE LILY AND SINGS

        CHORUS: COME, MAMMA. COME. QUICK FOLLOW ME.
        STEP OUT ON THE LEAVES OF THE WATER LILY.

        VERSE 3: AND THE WIFE IN HER DREAMING STEPS OUT ON THE STREAM
        BUT THE LILY LEAVES SINK, AND SHE WAKES FROM HER DREAM.
        AH, THE WAKING IS SAD FOR THE TEARS THAT IT BRINGS,
        AND SHE KNOWS IT’S HER DEAD BABY’S SPIRIT THAT SINGS.

        CHORUS: COME, MAMMA. COME. QUICK FOLLOW ME.
        STEP OUT ON THE LEAVES OF THE WATER LILY.

        CHORUS: COME, MAMMA. COME. QUICK FOLLOW ME,
        STEP OUT ON THE LEAVES OF THE WATER LILY.

      2. Thank you so much for taking the time to find these lyrics for me, that was really kind of you. I will print them off and take them with me on the flight to Italy. Thank you for introducing the song to me.

        My very best wishes
        Charlotte

  30. Thanks so much for posting those recordings! Your voice is astounding and I wish you success (and many more opportunities to record)!

    Reply

    1. Hi Rebecca, thank you so much for visiting here with me and I am really happy that you enjoyed the recordings 🙂 I am hopeful that I will be able do get some more tracks recorded soon and if I can I will post them here.

      My very best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  31. Thank you for the follow Charlotte! Your voice is amazing, the type of music wouldn’t really be my first choice but I think I’ve seen it in a different light, you sang it beautifully and it sounded amazing! Thank you so much for visiting my blog! 😀

    Reply

    1. Hi Aaran, I love to connect with people who then listen to my music and find pieces they can enjoy. My brother and my Nan are both Geminis and after a slow start I have managed to get them both to appreciate more and more classical pieces. I am a Scorpio and love to perform and if doing so introduces people to classical pieces that they may not normally have listened to then it is all worthwhile 🙂

      So glad you visited with me and come back again soon
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. Haha Gemini’s always come round in the end! I really did like your classical pieces, they were quite amazing!
        I was actually just going to ask what you’re sign is! People must love to watch you if you’re a Scorpio! Even I’m really drawn to your music!
        I’ll definitely be back 😀 hope you visit me again soon!

  32. Hi Charlotte,

    Wow, you have a wonderful voice. As for the folk songs you’ve already listed, The trees they grow so high is definitely my favourite! I’d love to hear you sing that.
    I wish you the best with choosing your two songs.
    Also, thanks for visiting my blog and being so kind to even follow it!

    Tammy

    Reply

    1. Hi Tammy, I love to perform the Trees They Grow So High as it is such an emotional piece. I wish I had more recordings of the songs that I have performed so that I could let you listen to a few more.

      Thanks for the visit and come back again soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

  33. Hi, Charlotte,

    I’m an old country boy, born on a farm, and used to American folksongs. Your vocals come from some other, purer realm! Thanks for sharing your talent and your love of singing!

    All the best,

    Dan

    Reply

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me Dan, I would love to explore some of the American folksongs that you talk off. If you can think of any songs that would suit my voice type then I would love it if you could let me know 🙂

      Come back again soon
      Charlotte

      Reply

  34. Just had the time to properly listen to them . My gosh – Do Not Go My Love – was pure magic. Carmen Aida

    Reply

    1. I just love your name I find it so emotive, I am so pleased that you had another listen to my songs again. I come from a family who had never thought to listen to classical music before I started to sing. So I am used to slowly persuading people to think again about adding some of the classics to their playlists 
      In answer to your earlier question some of my favourite songs from Carmen are ; Se’guidille Et Duo: pre’s Des Ramparts De Seville, Voici l’Ordre:Partez and of course the Habanera.

      Hope to see you back here again soon
      Charlotte

      Reply

  35. O Waly Waly was beautiful. I love traditional folk music and you interpreted very nicely. I’m Canadian by birth but I guess my heart is still in the highlands. Blessings for another successful academic year.

    Reply

    1. Hi Brian, I am so glad that your enjoyed my performance of O Waly Waly. I am still working on my percussive consonants which will help with the clarity of the text so I hope you will notice the difference in future performances.

      Come back soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

  36. What a beautiful voice you have! I’m so glad you posted the recordings as well — I enjoyed listening to them! Thank you for following Mrs. City Boy and blessings to you as you continue on your musical journey!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for visiting Janine and for the lovely comment. I enjoyed reading through some of you Haiku, I especially like the one titled “Queens” as it reminds me of my Mum 🙂

      I hope that you can visit again soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

      1. It would be great to come and see one of your performances. Next time you’re in Sheppey get in touch, It would be good to interview you, maybe we can set one up for next time?

        Stay in touch.

      2. That would be great maybe we can arrange something when you’re next in Sheppey, so let me know in advance. Would be good to see one of your next performances as well so we will keep an eye on your agenda.

        Keep in touch.
        Luke
        Ruckus

      3. Hi Luke, thanks for getting back in touch so quickly 🙂 sadly I’ve no performances planned in the Kent area but I will be visiting family in August so we may cross paths then if the opportunity arises .

        Best Wishes and arrivederci a presto
        Charlotte.

  41. I don’t listen to a lot of singing these days, but you have a beautiful voice and I wish you all the best in your career. Thank you for following my blog, I think yours is lovely. I am very fond of Andreas Scholl singing ‘My love is an apple’ so I think that might be possibly my favourite folk song. all very best wishes, Joanna

    Reply

  42. I know nothing at all about operatic music. That being said, I’ve been sitting here listening to these songs this morning, and they’ve put me into such a calm mood! You have an amazing voice.

    Reply

    1. Thank you for stopping and listening and I’m really happy you enjoyed them. Several years ago I too knew nothing about Opera music but it is an amazing vast collection of the most brilliant compositions and I’m sure you would find plenty to enjoy. I hope you return and maybe I can pick out some more songs that you will enjoy. Did you have a favourite? I like to know which song from a set people enjoy the most, it helps when I’m selecting pieces for small recitals.
      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  43. Hi Charlotte – whoever told you that the classic Irish song ‘She Moved Through the Fair’ does not understand the Irish culture where women often sing songs which may be more lyrically suited to men. Sinead O’Connor’s version of the forementioned song is probably the best I have ever heard – it gives me shivers each time I hear it! You can listen to it here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DQnS18EeWM.

    Reply

    1. I love to sing songs that sit nicely on my voice and “She moved through the fair” is a particular favourite, I love the emotion that you can project when singing the lyrics to the haunting melody.

      Have a great day and I hope you can call back again soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

  44. I have a passion for opera and you have a beautiful soprano voice, Charlotte. Amor Commanda is one of my favorite Handel arias. It isn’t easy to sing and you definitely did justice to it. I’m following you now and will look forward to your entries. I would love to hear you sing any of the Italian classics: s’altro che lagrime, Vissi D’arte, Vissi D’amore… or Let the Bright Seraphim!

    Thank you for stopping by my BLOG and for following me. Wishing you much success! –Renee

    Reply

    1. Hi Renee, I am glad that our paths crossed and that you enjoyed my performances. Though I have a love for singing I need to find ways of letting people know a little more about me and what I do. Your website (http://www.rpmmarketing.biz/) makes interesting reading and I will have to do some more research 🙂

      Best wishes and come back again when you can.
      Charlotte

      Reply

  45. Hey there, thanks for following me. I heard your amor commanda and that was a solid performance. Given you just started, sure I will see you sing on stage in the future 🙂 Cheers, Aries

    Reply

    1. Hi Lynda, thanks for dropping by today and reading through my blog. I thought that “Julie’s Apron” was lovely good luck with everything that you do.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

  48. Hi Charlotte,

    I just saw that you started following my blog, and when I came over to follow your blog I was so impressed! You have a beautiful voice! How did you get into Opera? I was living in Norway last year and have a dear friend in Sweden who works at the Royal Opera House- it was my first experience with opera and I loved it. Anyway, so impressed by your work and thanks for checking out my recipes!

    Happy Monday,
    Amanda

    Reply

    1. Hi Amanda, I discovered classical singing when I was 12 and have loved every minute of my training. You can read a little more on website ( link ) if you have the time. My dad is currently updating my website for me as it doesn’t work very well on smart phones 🙁 What Operas did you get to see in Norway ?

      Best wishes and come back again soon.
      Charlotte

      Reply

  49. Hi Charlotte,
    I’ve just been listening (and reading along to) the lyrics for Widmung… and I must say your pronunciation is very good. I love the way you pronounce “mir” for example. How did you go about training for this? Listening, I assume, and having an good ear.

    Do you plan to record anything in the near future?

    Phil

    Reply

    1. Hi Phil, sorry for the delay in getting back to you as it has been a hectic few days 🙂

      I usually have to study the language word by word and check each for it’s direct definition, which then leads me to search in a German dictionary for the word’s phonetics. These are the symbols which represent a sound which are especially useful to singers. At the RCS we have lessons in the use of I.P.A. (International Phonetics Association) with our lecturer Helen Lawson in Italian and English.

      I also do a lot of listening to see how I can then manipulate the words with my voice to try and better represent the meaning behind them. My teacher, Kath, is a specialist in German Lieder so she picks up any loose ends or issues with my diction. Kath is a fabulous teacher and I enjoy my lessons with her immensely but If I am not correct I soon know about it 🙂

      I have included a couple of extra songs that were recorded on Saturday during my concert with the Tideswell Male Voice Choir in my blog post about the event if you want to have a listen.

      Warmest wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

    1. Hi there, thank you so much for your supportive comment it means so much to me that my songs connect to people who listen to them. It makes all the preparation and training worth every minute.

      I am sure that it is like when you are planning and preparing a wonderful meal or selecting just the right ingredients for your recipes, if the people eating your creations enjoy them you know that it is a job well done 🙂

      Many thanks for visiting and I do hope that you can find the time to call back again.

      Best wishes
      Charlotte

      Reply

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