Godwin Books

Music for Siegfried’s death

Music for Siegfried’s death What a powerful piece of music!

Here’s another song sung by Carlos Gardel. As usual with tangos, the main theme is nostalgia. The narrator looks back on his life--his fellow soldiers in the barracks, his favorite bar, the tragic deaths of his girl friend and his mother. It's all about nostalgia but he does not reproach God for his losses, that would be tempting fate. He must resign himself....

Adios Muchachos, a classic tango Here’s another song sung by Carlos Gardel. As usual with tangos, the main theme is nostalgia. The narrator looks back on his life–his fellow soldiers in the barracks, his favorite bar, the tr…

1 Mamma son' tanto felice Mother, I am so happy 2 Perché ritorno da te. To come back to you 3 La mia canzone ti dice My song says to you 4 Che (è) il più bel giorno per me. That it’s my most beautiful day. 5 Mamma son' tanto felice. Mother, I’m so happy 6 Vivere lontano…...

“Mamma” a heartfelt Italian song from 1940       1 Mamma son’ tanto felice             Mother, I am so happy 2 Perché ritorno da te.    &nb…

You will find two links in this post. In the first one a young Italian woman explains and illustrates the body language and sounds of a native speaker of Italian. Here's the link (copy it and put it in the google search bar. The second link takes you to Vittorio Gassman reading from Dante's "Inferno." In my opinion Gassman's readings of Dante are unsurpassed....

How to speak like an Italian You will find two links in this post. In the first one a young Italian woman explains and illustrates the body language and sounds of a native speaker of Italian. Here’s the link (copy it and…

Here are three versions of “Casta Diva” from Bellini’s “Norma.” (1) Anna Netrebko (1990s?), Maria Callas (1960s?) and (3) Joan Sutherland (possibly 1958) Which do you prefer? In the first act of Bellini’s "Norma" the high priestess Norma is visited by a group of angry Druids. They plead with her to declare war on Rome, who rules them oppressively. Norma calms them down and convinces them that now is not the time to fight....

Netrebko, Callas and Sutherland: compare their renditions of Casta Diva from Norma Here are three versions of “Casta Diva” from Bellini’s “Norma.” (1) Anna Netrebko (1990s?), Maria Callas (1960s?) and (3) Joan Sutherland (possibly 1958) Which do you prefer? In the first act of Be…