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