I attended a master class with Ms. Cook ages ago, and she told a story there which I think she's told many times before, but for those who might not know it, bears repeating here.
Barbara Cook couldn't read music.
(insane, but true.)
When Bernstein was teaching her the music for "Glitter and Be Gay," after the lyrics "here I droop my wings," it was Ms. Cook's idea to add that gorgeous high glissando after. She told us that if she figured this: if the wings are drooping, it needed to be more dramatic than the way Lenny wrote it!
She had guts!
Wayman, I do think "Vanilla Ice Cream," her undeniable signature song, is probably my personal favorite. I can't even explain why. I think it's just the perfect kind of song for the specific artful charm of her voice. For me, the timbre of her tone is what gets me, and I love hearing that sound matched with an upbeat lyric. It warms me up inside.
What a luminary talent! Gone too soon. Lucky to have met her.
- GMB |
