Merchant of Venice - Bridal Ballad

[Dave]

Hayley tests the World of exotic hi-fi

Aaaaah.... Bridal Ballad, Hayley's contribution to The Merchant of Venice soundtrack. Bridal Ballad is also available on the UK Special Edition of "Pure" and Hayley often sings it in live performances, these days. She sung it exquisitely for us at ClassicAlive, only last week and the more I listen to it, the more I like it.

But do we hear it as it should be heard, on our feeble computers and budget hi-fi systems? I don't think so. Even concert hall amplification systems and acoustics cannot handle the delicacy of Hayley's voice in a song like this one. What we need is Hayley singing it live in front of us, with no microphone - or perhaps, the World's best Hi-Fi system to play it on!

Which leads me onto a very interesting review of one of the World's best and most expensive audio amplifiers. Read on, for this is a review of a £3,500 (yep, pounds) amplifier called The Lavardin IT Integrated Amplifier, for home use. It's reviewed here and no doubt, the reviewer had equally exotic speakers and a CD player to match. Here is an extract:

The IT's secret is its ability to define not just detail, but also dynamics, not just space but also time. Take a track like the delicate and intricate `Bridal Ballad' from the Merchant Of Venice OST. The ability to precisely scale and place musical energy, to map tiny changes in level against time, means that the IT easily reveals the subtle technique in Hayley Westenra's vocal, as well as the perfect counterpoint from the lute that underpins it. The beautiful accents used in the three note phrase that close the first verse are absolutely beautiful, minor in themselves but so expressive in the context of the song as a whole, bridging as they do from the almost unaccompanied opening into the entrance of the full band. It's a critical point in the song if you are to appreciate the full expressive breadth of the performance. With the IT there's no chance that you'll miss it...

So there we have it. Hayley is now an audio reference, the standard by which the world's most exotic hi-fi systems can be judged. Of all the tracks on all the albums in all the World, the reviewer chose "our" Hayley's song to test this (apparently) amazing piece of electronics. Quite right, too.

I want one!!![/color] i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

[Richard]

Hello again Dave!

I agree that Hayley sang the Bridal Ballad beautifully at Olympia, and I bet her song is much better than the rest of the film. I'm not really a great lover of Shakespeare, even though he gave me the inspiration for the text in my signature.

I won't be forking out £3,500 for a new amplifier, because the quality of the sound you hear is dependant on the acoustics of the room and the sharpness of your hearing. I know my hearing in the upper register is not as good as it was when I was Hayley's age, but at least that proves I've got a good memory!

Personally I find I get the best sound from all my CDs if I plug my £30 Sony headphones directly into my £120 Technics CD player, not using any amplifier at all, and I don't need to listen at a high volume level. That way I'm kind to my hearing and the neighbours! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Only 12 days to go to Hayley's 18th Birthday!

See you again soon,

Richard

[Richard]

I've got to add to my previous post!

The finest sound system in the world couldn't possibly match the experience of seeing and hearing Hayley live in concert at close range, like we did at Olympia. Try meeting her on a CD! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I'm gushing about Hayley again, but it won't be for the last time!

Bye for now,

Richard

[Dave]

Richard said:

I've got to add to my previous post!

The finest sound system in the world couldn't possibly match the experience of seeing and hearing Hayley live in concert at close range, like we did at Olympia. Try meeting her on a CD! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Well yes, and I see what you mean, Richard. The problem with most concerts (including ClassicAlive) is that Hayley sings through a microphone and "heavy duty" sound system. While the quality is usually pretty good, it won't always match a high quality, well set-up home audio system played in a decent size room (or on good headphones!) from CDs recorded on studio equipment.

Live concert systems are affected by the need to be durable, to be loud enough to fill a concert hall, by any hall acoustics problems and by extraneous noise (like at ClassicAlive). Sometimes they are badly set-up, too! So we don't often get to hear Hayley singing as she would sound live, "in the flesh" Actually seeing and meeting her at a concert does tend to make up for it, though!

Except... in the foyer at Cardiff last year when she sung Ave Maria for us acapella and unrehearsed, with Holly. Wonderful stuff! Oh, I wonder what happened at the London New Zealand High Commission concert for UNICEF last year? Did I miss Hayley singing "live" without a mic?

[roger]

Dave said:

Oh, I wonder what happened at the London New Zealand High Commission concert for UNICEF last year? Did I miss Hayley singing "live" without a mic?

Hi Dave,

Hayley did sing with a mic at the UNICEF concert and it sounded wonderful. It was a small room holding a maximum of 100 people. There was very little soft furnishing (apart from us!) to absorb the sound. As I recall, the acoustics were good enough that even Steve Abbott sounded good when he made a speech!

Roger

[Richard]

Hello again Dave and Roger!

I can think of nothing nicer than listening to Hayley singing fairly quietly in my ear through good quality headphones. That way she's singing only to me and nobody else! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

I only came in to have a quick look this afternoon, and I've made three more posts!

See you soon,

Richard

[Dave]

The Merchant of Venice DVD is now out in the UK and soon in the US and other places, too. It seems to be quite popular too as it's been in the top 10 DVDs at Amazon and entered the official DVD chart at no. 19. I seem to remember reading somewhere that Bridal Ballad has been stuck over the end titles in the actual movie (travesty!!!) but it's been "promoted" to the middle for the CD, which makes more sense as its one of the highlights of the sound track. Which leads nicely onto the reason for this post:

Jocelyn Pook has been nominated for "Soundtrack Composer of the Year" for Merchant of Venice, at the Classical Brits 2005. This is a new category and the other nominations are John Williams for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Nigel Hess for Ladies in Lavender. Tough competition there for Jocelyn but...

I wonder if this could pave the way for Hayley to be squeezed at the last minute into the Classical Brit Awards this year? I do hope so, as singing Bridal Ballad would be a wonderful showcase for her talents in front of a classical music industry who seem to be sceptical of anything crossover... and Bridal Ballad is much more classical than crossover in my opinion.

I've heard nothing official about this so it's only a hope of mine... but if Hayley was to be squeezed in, I think "Bridal Ballad" would be the best way to do it. All together now, cross your fingers and toes!

[Richard]

Hello again Dave!

I see HMV are selling the Merchant of Venice DVD at only £13.99, and it is at no.22 in their own DVD chart. There are plenty of copies available.

Bye for now,

Richard

[Richard]

Hello again folks!

Since my previous post, I see the Merchant of Venice DVD has slipped to no.26 in the HMV chart, but it's still in a good position. For a film based on a Shakespeare play to get into the charts at all is a remarkable achievement, in my opinion. It can only be because Hayley is on the soundtrack!

I don't smoke, so I won't be celebrating with a Hamlet! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Exit, stage left...

Richard

[Dave]

Here's a bit of light ferreting folks, everything you ever wanted to know about the Merchant of Venice movie/DVD and more. It's here at Decca (with 1 minute Bridal Ballad sample) and here at the official UK website (with video trailer). Both sites are very well presented indeed and oh, here's a link to the official US website.

The soundtrack composer Jocelyn Pook says: ..."Bridal Ballad, where I have used a text by Edgar Allan Poe." He is a 19th Century poet - perhaps we should have the lyrics in this thread as they are not included with Hayley's UK Special Edition of Pure? OK, as Bridal Ballad is one of my all-time favourite Hayley songs, here they are! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Poem lyrics of Bridal Ballad by Edgar Allan Poe.

The ring is on my hand,
And the wreath is on my brow;
Satin and jewels grand
Are all at my command,
And I am happy now.

And my lord he loves me well;
But, when first he breathed his vow,
I felt my bosom swell -
For the words rang as a knell,
And the voice seemed his who fell
In the battle down the dell,
And who is happy now.

But he spoke to re-assure me,
And he kissed my pallid brow,
While a reverie came o'er me,
And to the church-yard bore me,
And I sighed to him before me,
Thinking him dead D'Elormie,
"Oh, I am happy now!"

And thus the words were spoken,
And this the plighted vow,
And, though my faith be broken,
And, though my heart be broken,
Here is a ring, as token
That I am happy now!

Would God I could awaken!
For I dream I know not how!
And my soul is sorely shaken
Lest an evil step be taken, -
Lest the dead who is forsaken
May not be happy now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fingers crossed for Jocelyn Pook - her M of V soundtrack is on the shortlist for Soundtrack of the Year at this month's Classical Brits - what a wonderful surprise it would be if Jocelyn won and Hayley popped up to sing Bridal Ballad!

[HWI]

For anyone in the UK who has not yet bought the DVD of the Merchant of Venice, Tesco's have got it for just £8.99. Or you can get it in an offer of two DVD's for £15.00.

This was too good to ignore, so I have just bought it. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Keith.

[Ross]

i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifWell it has only taken 4.5 years to reach New Zealand but they are finally showing the film Merchant Of Venice in the movie theatres. In Christchurch it is being shown exclusively at a little 10 seat digital theatre in the Art Centre which I think is appropiate as that was where Hayley did a lot of busking.
The film was excellent. Great actors and a great story from William Shakespeare. And of course I watched the closing credits to listen to Bridal Ballad. (Much to the annoyance of the usher as the movie was running late and the next viewers were waiting to go in lol).

[I-H-F]

Mar 20, 2009 1:01:38 GMT Ross said:

i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifWell it has only taken 4.5 years to reach New Zealand but they are finally showing the film Merchant Of Venice in the movie theatres. In Christchurch it is being shown exclusively at a little 10 seat digital theatre in the Art Centre which I think is appropiate as that was where Hayley did a lot of busking.
The film was excellent. Great actors and a great story from William Shakespeare. And of course I watched the closing credits to listen to Bridal Ballad. (Much to the annoyance of the usher as the movie was running late and the next viewers were waiting to go in lol).

I've yet to see this movie.

I usually make a point of staying behind to see the credits, listen to a song, or to watch out-takes. I'd definitely be sticking around to listen to Hayley singing during the credits, whether the cinema staff wanted me out or not!

[Richard]

Hello Irish Hayley Fan!

You've just reminded me. I bought the DVD about three years ago, so I really must get round to watching it one day! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Best Wishes,

Richard

[gra7890]

Mar 22, 2009 8:36:09 GMT Richard said:

I bought the DVD about three years ago!

Hi Richard,
With current ebay prices I would say that was a very shrewd investment

Best Wishes,

Graham