This morning in the shower I was singing the Dutchman's Die frist ist um or a garbled version of it anyways and at the big note got really light headed and then blacked out completely.
I awoke in a crumpled heap shortly after (presumably I was only out a matter of seconds) and my wrists hurt and not my head, so I guess I broke my fall pretty well.
I guess the takeaway is that it is better to risk disappointing your imaginary audience and drop the note early rather than sustain it for as long as you can and forget to breathe in a hot shower.
Doch dieses Wörtlein: und, -wär' es zerstört,
wie anders als mit Isoldes eignem Leben wär' Tristan der Tod gegeben?
Maybe the spirit of Wagner knocked you out from behind because you blew that note too bladly.
Doch dieses Wörtlein: und, -wär' es zerstört,
wie anders als mit Isoldes eignem Leben wär' Tristan der Tod gegeben?
Anyway, if the thread is about passing out because of breath problems while sustaining musical line, why does the title say "dangers of singing Wagner"? You're more likely to experience this when singing something like "Il mio tesoro" or prayer scene from Maria Stuarda.
This gives me idea... what if Flórez's wife will decide to get rid of him and take over his riches, she will say "let's go and take hot shower together and you will sing me O fiamma soave ... ".
HAVE I JUST CONCEIVED PERFECT CRIME?
Because I was singing Wagner.
I suppose I could ask why limit ourselves to breath problems in opera singing and not any kind of singing? And actually, why just singing but not also other activities involving possible breath problems, ie. marathon running? And why just breath problems, but not the host of other problems capable of afflicting us humans? How far do you want to take this? I'm sure we could eventually end up discussing the dangers of everything from uneven sidewalks to pouring tea until we land on whether or not it is worth taking the risk to even exist.
Not I, sir. Perhaps you, but not I.
Doch dieses Wörtlein: und, -wär' es zerstört,
wie anders als mit Isoldes eignem Leben wär' Tristan der Tod gegeben?
Maybe you're not a true bass. Try working your way up to Die Frist ist Um, maybe by gaining experience with In Fernem Land first. Or, it could be that you are too young and straining yourself and your voice before you are ready for the Dutchman - as you can see, you could hurt yourself!
Singing is dangerous. This explains why I don't sing. Now when you folks complain that I am chanting in a monotone in the singing context thread, I'll have you know because it is to preserve my health. Due to my motorcycle accident, I've run through at least 6 of my lives and have only 2 left to spare which I certainly wouldn't want to foolishly put at risk from partaking in any wanton singing!
“The hand of Providence creeps among the stars, giving Slothrop the finger.”
― Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow
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