Bessie Bobtail by
Samuel Barber
Who is the Composer – Samuel Barber American Composer
b. 3/9/1910 West Chester, PA
d. 1/23/1981 NYC, NY
Education – Curtis Institute of Music
Who is the poet – James Stephens b.1880 d. 1950 Irish
Commemorated – Samuel Barber addressed this song to
Edith and John Braun with whom Barber spent the winter of 1934 in Vienna,
Austria (Edith was a pianist and John a painter) (“Samuel Barber” by Barbara B.
Heyman Oxford University Press, 1992, pg 50.)
What was the song about – seems to be about a
distressed women who is not part of society
Musical/ artistic insight – Maybe from the poet’s perspective this woman could
represent the poet’s own mother, was adopted by the family she worked for.
James was raised in an orphanage. Maybe this is about single, unwed women who
are shunned in society. The music sound bleak, weighty in the key change and
repetitive notes expressing the never ending tragedy befallen this woman. It is
also suggested that both the piano and vocal lines describe a limp that Bessy
Bobtail had. (“Samuel Barber” by Barbara B. Heyman Oxford University Press,
1992, pg. 50)
Personal Meaning to me both musically and as a dramatic
piece – This piece will prove to be very challenging for me to sign as it’s
in the lowest part of my registrar. The tempo and notation are both awkward. As
I read the poem and listen to other singers, I believe there should be
emotional and vocal inflections distinguishing each repetitive phrase “Oh God,
He Knows.” These vocal inflections should represent the different people being
addressed. Possible people being addressed are: 1) Bessie herself, (quietly as
if her inner monologue is sneaking out becoming audible), 2) the person she has
hurt or whom this devastating news will humiliate, (this could be more than one
person like a husband, a lover and/or family relations), and 3) deity when it’s
said “Even God Almighty knows.”
Julianna
Braun
