Pianist and wacky art-song enthusiast Mandee Madrid-Sikich talks all things Lieder related (and not related!). Composers, poets, cultural contexts, piano settings, German romanticism - if it has to do with art song, you better believe it's included in this podcast! Each episode covers a different art song and is complete with special guest appearances and performances of the chosen songs. Composers discussed include Mendelssohn, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, Strauss and others. You can find Mandee on Instagram @liedernerd and on You Tube as Mandee Madrid-Sikich .
Finally the end is upon us! It's hard to believe that after 16 episodes we've finally reached the end of our winter wanderings. While you might shed a tear or two over our wanderer's perplexing conclusion, you won't be too sad when you hear about all the great stuff we have in store for season 3 of Follow the Lieder. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special interview with Samuel Martin, the artistic founding director of Cincinnati Song Initiative. A very special thank you goes out to Dr. Tyler Reece for his incredible vocal collaboration throughout season 2!With guest vocalist Dr. Tyler ReeceEmoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.pianoDer Leiermann
We are nearing the end kids! In this, the penultimate episode of our Winterreise season we discuss Mut! and Die Nebensonnen. Be prepared to hear a battle hymn, a Shakespeare re-enactment, a brief science bit, and if you listen all the way to the end you might even hear our co-host shed a tear or two! With guest vocalist Dr. Tyler ReeceEmoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.pianoMut!
Thats right kids - this is NOT a drill - Susan Youens herself joins us for this episode of Follow the Lieder in which we discuss Das Wirtshaus from Schubert's Winterreise. Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Das Wirtshaus ⚰️☠️
We are deeper into the Wanderer's journey than ever before! Prepare yourself for an existential contemplation and perhaps a little dancing as we discuss songs number 19 and 20 from Schubert's Winterreise! Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Täuschung
On this special bonus epsiode to accompany CSI's upcoming program as part of its series The Belletrists, we cover the life and work of Friedrich Rückert, in particular his poem Ferne Lieder as set by Alban Berg. With guest co-host Emily Jewell and guest vocalist Ryan Bradford --> https://www.bradfordbaritone.com/about-2 Sing Ferne Lieder with me! Sources for this episode include: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1866/07/friedrich-ruckert/628517/; https://mahlerfoundation.org/mahler/contemporaries/friedrich-ruckert/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_R%C3%BCckert ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alban_Berg ; https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alban-Berg ;
If you're wondering how ketchup, mustard, Lord of the RIngs, and tooth doctors could possibly be connected to Schubert's Winterreise, then you better tune in to this week's installment of Follow the Lieder! Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Im Dorfe:
Ready to get weird? Dr. Tyler Reece joins us today to discuss this song of ultimate wierdness and discombobulation (perhaps the strangest of all of Schubert's compositions!). It's an episode you don't want to miss! Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Letzte Hoffnung:
Tricks, horror-vignettes, morbid thoughts, literary nights, stunt flying, and corvid creatures are all topics that await you in this, the 10th installment of Season 2 of Follow the Lieder! Listen carefully to learn the coolest zoological facts you never knew were connected to the wonderful world of Lieder
After a short summer break, Follow the Lieder is back with a vengeance to finish up Schubert's Winterreise Part 2. This episode contains all your favorite things: a hilarious (and brand new) co-host, a deep dive into Schubert's life, a detailed description and analysis of Die Post, and all the facts you could ever want to know (and some you didn't want to know) about syphilis! How could it not be a blast?!? Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Die Post:
Let's play a game! I'm serious... we actually play a Lieder game in this week's episode of Follow the Lieder (betchya didn't know those existed
If you've ever found yourself wandering into the the worlds tiefsten Felsengründe, then this is the episode for you! Ghostly lights, a worm, charcoal burning knowledge, a watery grave and more await you (and our traveller) in this diverse episode! Who knew discussing Irrlicht and Rast from Schuebrt's Winterreise could be such fun?! Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Irrlicht
We took our very own "Rückblick" and invited back one of ye olde time co-host GREATS to discuss the eighth song from Schubert's Winterreise! Tune in and turn up to find out who! Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Rückblick:
Today we discuss not just one, but TWO songs from Winterreise (and one of them is an absolute HEADBANGER). The water is flowing (or not.... or is it?) in both Wasserflut and Auf dem Flusse, along with our traveller's emotions! Stay tuned to the bitter end for a very special guest performance by the floofiest singer you've ever heard. Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Wasserflut:
In today's installment of Follow the Lieder: Schubert's Winterreise, we discuss the iconic song Der Lindenbaum. A tree has a message, but is it what our traveller wants to hear? And will he go back for his hat? Find out all this and more by tuning in and turning up! Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Der Lindenbaum:
In Episode 3 of our Winterreise series, we cover Erstarrung and a surprise second song often said to be its predecessor. You'll have to tune in to find out all about the predecessor's crazy (literally) backstory! With guest co-host Brian Sikich and guest vocalist Dr. Tyler Reece. Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Erstarrung:
In the second episode of our trek through Schubert's Winterreise, we cover Die Wetterfahne and Gefrorne Tränen. The nobility of the journeyman dwindles as he feels himself overcome by feelings of victimization and horror at his own grief. It's a party you're not gonna want to miss! With guest co-host Brian Sikich and guest vocalist Dr. Tyler Reece. Emoji stories for each episode by @teodoro.piano Die Wetterfahne:
Behold! The second season of Follow the Lieder is upon us! Season 2 will be all about Schubert's Winterreise, beginning today with an overview of Wilhelm Müller and the genesis of his poems, as well as a hefty discussion about Gute Nacht, the first song of this epic cycle. With guest host Brian Sikich. My supreme gratitude goes out to Dr. Tyler Reece as I would not be able to produce this podcast without his incredible vocal collaborations. Gute Nacht:
Witches, Witchcraft, Paganism! What does any of that have to do with Lieder and why should we talk about it? Find out all that and more in today's looooooooong awaited episode. Special guest host (and witch!) Chelsea Willett discusses the history of this long misunderstood practice as well as its place in the modern world. Chelsea is a graphic designer and you can follow her on Instagram @chelseawillett_designs and her shop @luna.mons. Her website is https://www.chelseawillettdesigns.com/links/ Discussion is followed up with a performance of Mendelssohn's Hexenlied sung by guest vocalist Siân Dicker, Instagram--> @siandicker Sing Hexenlied with me!!!!!--> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtAsajgyeWM&list=PLIcW-nltlNHFyhSWSHES-F2E7HL8UPSjr&index=19 Support me and the podcast on Patreon ! --> https://www.patreon.com/liedernerd You can find me on Instagram @liedernerd and on YouTube as Mandee Madrid-Sikich. Sources: https://bostonreview.net/gender-sexuality/jessie-kindig-all-witches-they-could-not-burn https://lithub.com/a-literary-history-of-witches/ https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/journey-into-witchcraft-beliefs/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salem_witch_trials https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/history-of-witches https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140925-where-do-witches-come-from https://www.history.com/news/why-witches-fly-on-brooms https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/witchcraft-too-mainstream https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night https://www.britannica.com/topic/Walpurgis-Night
In 1845 Mendelssohn made a copy of his song Schilflied with a tiny, unexpected masterpiece in the top left hand corner of the manuscript. Find out all about it in this episode with Mandee's surprise guest host! Featuring soprano Harriet Burns (website--> https://www.harrietburns.com/) Treble Clef Manuscript (scroll down on the same page for Bach and Mozart manuscripts) --> https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/composer-manuscript-handwriting/signatures/ Link to purchase Schilflied print--> https://museoteca.com/r/en/work/5838/felix_mendelssohn/schilflied_reed_song_/!/
Today's episode features a truly THRILLING neo-gothic horror story complete with misty mountains, a glassy sea, a double crossing queen and her murderous companion. Mandee covers Schubert's Der Zwerg (text by Mattäus von Collin). Guest vocalist is the inimitable mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska. Sources: "Of Dwarves, Perversion, and Patriotism: Schubert's Der Zwerg" https://www.jstor.org/stable/746897?seq=1 Johnson, G., & Wigmore, R. (2014). Franz Schubert: the complete songs. New Haven ; London: Yale University Press.
In this episode we dive deep into Schubert's setting of the poem Aufenthalt by Ludwig Rellstab. Bonus topics include blanket burritos and how Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata got its name. Mandee's dog Czar even makes a vocal appearance at the end, so stay tuned to the very last minute to hear the singing pup! Featuring guest vocalist Tyler Reece
Special Episode Alert! The song that started it all!!! Today we are discussing Felix Mendelssohn's song Auf Flügeln des Gesanges with text by Heinrich Heine. One day while camping in Arizona, Mandee and Deborah listened to this sublime tune while contemplating the depths of meaning in the words, and voila! the idea for the Follow the Lieder podcast was born! Within this gorgeous gem of a song we encounter palm trees, gazelles, lotus flowers, giggling violets, twinkling stars, and fragrant, fairytale-telling roses. What's not to love? Tune in and turn up!!! with guest vocalist Naomi Merer Follow Mandee on instagram @liedernerd
Attention! Attention! In today's episode we cover a composer other than Schubert… This is not a drill! I repeat: this is NOT a drill!!! In a special episode of the gender-bending variety, Mandee and special guest Dr. Tyler Reece discuss Tyler's DMA dissertation “Liebe und Leben: Exploring Gender Roles and Sexuality in Nineteenth Century Lieder.” Complete with a live performance from Tyler's final DMA recital, we discuss issues including gender roles in early 19th century Germanic society, Berlin and the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement, the moral purity movement, gendered performance practices, and Tyler's dramatic integration of the gay male perspective into this beloved cycle. Chances are, you've never heard it performed quite like this! Recorded at UCSB Karl Geiringer Hall, 4 May 2019 Dr. Tyler Reece, baritone Mandee Madrid-Sikich, piano Link to Tyler's dissertation here... "Liebe und Leben: Exploring Gender Roles and Sexuality in Nineteenth Century Lieder"
This episode goes out to all those Lieder nerds who haven't yet had their fill of Schubert and Goethe! Mandee is joined by special guest host Ben Offringa to discuss Schubert's first published song, the infamous Erlkönig. Creepy/fascinating/thrilling/exhausting stuff to be found within! Guest vocalist: Dr.(!) Tyler Reece Links: C. Gibbs article- https://www.jstor.org/stable/746658?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents Anne Sophie- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdhRYMY6IEc&feature=related
Now this episode really has it all... a wager with God, boxes of jewels, a poisoned mother, a murdered brother, the teenage mutant ninja turtles (maybe), and the ORIGINAL Faustian pact. Mandee and co-host Deborah discuss the Schubert song Gretchen am Spinnrade with text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Complete with guest appearance by Deborah's bird, Sir Phillip Birb. Guess vocalist: mezzo-soprano Kelly Guerra