Musicians who both perform and compose their own music are undeniable gems, and those who are also lyricists are simply amazing. There are those who say that singers and musicians who create their own music are artists while those who do not are simply performers. However, a musician is more than their ability for creation. There are composers who can create beautiful music, but have no real skill at performing; lyricists who write touching poetry, but cannot create or perform music, no one thinks less of them for this, because they are creating their art. Singing, is an art in it’s own right, as is playing an instrument; every note sung or played is an intrinsically unique creation. Those performers who sing, and play their way to fame are artists, to say otherwise is akin to saying a landscape painter is not a true artist because they did not create the landscape that they painted. Without artists who perform the music created by others, those composers and lyricists who do not have talent, or desire perform would be unheard, and once an artist died their music would no longer be performed. Performers fill a critical role in the perpetuation of music’s culture and history.
Born in 1935 to vaudeville performers, Julie Andrews got an early start on her singing career. Beginning at the age of 20, she performed in various stage musicals in London and in the United States. In 1963, Walt Disney cast Julie Andrews in the role for which she became famous, Mary Poppins. Shortly following this, in 1965, she starred in The Sound of Music. These roles cemented the public’s view of Andrews, “She soon found that audiences identified her only with singing, sugary-sweet nannies and governesses, and were reluctant to accept her in dramatic roles” (Peter & Boehm).
In 1997 Julie Andrews had a surgery to remove throat nodules, during which her vocal chords were damaged. Andrews continued acting in various films, but would no longer sing. In 2001 she starred one of the most successful films of the year The Princess Diaries, she reprised her role in 2004 in the Princess Diaries 2, in the film she sings, but in a sing-song speaking sort of way, none the less, the beauty and richness of her voice is even in this limited form of singing. Since then she has appeared primarily in family movies and as a voice actor for animated films.
The Sound of Music composed by Richard Rogers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein
In the Sound of Music the depth and breadth of Julie Andrews’ singing voice is abundantly clear. Her voice imitates the sweeping hills and valleys of which she is singing, rolling between deep tones and crescendos. This exultant combination gives rise to feelings of joy and pleasure in the natural world around us.
Love Me Tender composed by Lionel Newman, lyrics by George R Poulton performed with Johnny Cash
While this song keeps fairly midrange for Julie Andrews, it emphasizes the sweet delicateness of her voice. The song has a slow lovely tempo, giving it a romantic feel as it rolls along with the lyrics.
Your Crowning Glory composed by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Lorraine Feather performed with Raven-Seymone
In this cameo of Julie Andrews singing voice there is a sing-song effect but only in a few places does she actually sing, staying carefully in her undamaged lower range. Still the smooth and regal beauty of her voice is there. She sings in smooth tempo sections interspersed with bouncier rhythmic speaking. Later joined by Raven-Seymone the tempo is sped up and the rhythm is a little jazzier.
Stirling, Richard. Julie Andrews: an intimate biography. St. Martins Griffin, 2009.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/julie-andrews-richard-stirling/1102241285?ean=9780312564988
Peter, Tommy, and Volker Boehm. “Biography.” IMDb, IMDb.com, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000267/bio .
Explorations in Music 