Music Analysis: The Monk And His Cat

For my capstone performance I have selected four pieces of vocal literature: The Monk and His Cat by Samuel Barber, Si mes vers avaient des ailes by Reynaldo Hahn, Una donna a quindici anni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and V’adoro Pupille by George Frideric Handel. This repertoire includes a variety of pieces in different styles and languages, and overall I believe it encompasses my work as a classical vocalist.
The Monk and His Cat is a 9th century Irish poem set to music by 20th century American composer Samuel Barber. It is part of a larger cycle of songs for voice and piano called the “Hermit Songs”. Though the overall style of Samuel Barber’s compositions is quite hard to pinpoint, The Monk and His Cat is a clear break from earlier styles.
In 1888, Reynaldo Hahn composed this piece using the poetry of Victor Hugo, in the classic French musical style. The music is expressive and legato, a stark contrast to the dynamic 20th century piece before it. The words directly translate to “If my love had wings,” and it was originally intended by 15 year old Reynaldo Hahn to be tribute to his sister. This song has become one of my favorites not only because of the beautiful melody, but my connection to the lyrics themselves. I have been studying French for several years for both academic and performance reasons, and it is one of my favorite languages to sing in because I understand the words almost instinctually. I am extremely moved by the passion and emphasis Hahn gives to specific words through his phrasing and melody. The final cadence features a long retardation on the word “l’amour”, giving the piece a soft and almost inconclusive resolution to the final
In this song Cleopatra seduces Julius Caesar using her beautiful words and melody. It is a slow song that emphasizes the music above all else. This contrasts the previous aria, as it is a role generally performed by a mezzo-soprano or a dramatic soprano; compared to Una donna a quindici anni, I utilize a darker tone. As well as this, the second verse employs ornamentation, an embellishment characteristic of baroque music. Overall, I chose this piece to juxtapose my previous selections, as it shows a heavier side of my voice, and an older style (“Giulio Cesare” dates to 1724).
This collection of repertoire purposes to showcase my versatility and my strengths as a classical soprano. They all come from the modern canon of vocal literature that is standard for the developing voice. A young singer in the 21st century must study a variety of art songs and arias primarily in French, Italian, German, and English. However, the pool of repertoire I am currently allowed to study is somewhat limited, as my vocal chords are still young and conducive to vocal