Sunday, April 07, 2024

Is This the Most Stunning American Folk Song? Hear an Extraordinary Slovenian Soprano Sing "Oh Shenandoah - Across the Wide Missouri," with Lyrics (Video)

Re-posted by N.S.

Last night, I posted a 46-minute long, symphony version of David Raksin's score to the 1951 Clark Gable picture, Across the Wide Missouri.

I had heard the title track numerous times, on the soundtracks to How the West was Won (1962), and in Basil Poledouris' beautiful score to the greatest miniseries of all time, the late Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove.

"Oh Shenandoah - Across the Wide Missouri"

341,288 views Jan 4, 2017
"Gimnazija Kranj Christmas Concert 2016 - American Night. In sold out Gallus Hall (Cankarjev dom, Slovenia) the Gimnazija Kranj Symphony Orchestra and Girls Choir perfomed an American folk song from the 19th century: "Oh Shenandoah or Across the Wide Missouri." Our kids and their friends played and sang this work of art stunningly. Solo voice is an amazing young slovenian soprano: Ernestina Jošt. The Concert was sold out in record time of 3 minutes (1500 seats). It was magic musical and artistic experience. Chorus master and conductor: Erik Šmid; Headmaster: mag. Franc Rozman; head of production: Gegor Jeraša; Concert master: Nejc Avbelj; Concert and film director: Primož Zevnik"

Oh, Shenandoah, I hear you calling
Hi-o, you rolling river,
Oh, Shenandoah, I long to hear you,
Hi-o, I'm bound away,
'Cross the wide, Missouri.

Missouri, she's a mighty river

Hi-o, you rolling river,
When she rolls down, her topsails shiver,
Hi-o, I'm bound away,
'Cross the wide, Missouri.

Farewell my dearest, I'm bound to leave you,
Hi-o, you rolling river,
Oh, Shenandoah, I'll not deceive you,
Hi-o, I'm bound away,
'Cross the wide Missouri.






1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The music is lush,the backing singers fantastic,but the soprano's voice is too high pitched for my taste(I'm not an opera connoisseur). I've never heard notes go into the stratosphere like that before,except on a blackboard.Great melody and it has that feeling great songs have.But "soprano" understates her range.

--GRA