Sunday, April 9, 2017

THE SOUND OF YMA


Yma Sumac  was a Peruvian soprano. In the 1950s, she was one of the most famous proponents of exotica  music. Sumac became an international success based on her extreme vocal range, which was said to be "well over five octaves at the peak of her singing career. Sumac recorded an extraordinarily wide vocal range of 5 octaves, 3 notes and a semitone ranging from E2 to Bb7. Recording restoration expert John H. Haley favorably compared Súmac's tone to opera singers Isabella Colbran, Maria Malibran, and Pauline Viardot. He described Súmac's voice as not having the "bright penetrating peal of a true coloratura soprano", but having in its place "an alluring sweet darkness...virtually unique in our time".  I have always loved her music, as it brings memories of childhood back from my grandmothers house, who raised me till middle school, when both my parent were working. Travel Penguin's post got me to listening to Yma today, so why not share it. I can't think of a more beautiful sound flooding the joint on this sunny morning.

16 comments:

  1. I'd heard of her before, but had never heard her sing.
    i quite enjoyed that to start off my Sunday!

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  2. Absolutely astounding. She was a favorite of mine as well. Not only talented, but an exotic beauty too. I can still remember her television performance on Letterman. She was 65 when she made an appearance.I truly HATED how Dave kept cutting her off and then used the excuse "we gotta go to commercials". How disrespectful to treat a legend like that!! He should have showed more respect, and first off, shouldn't be allowed to interview true artist. I never watched his show after that. How many singers are still performing at this level at that age? She was truly a force of nature.

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  3. Your grandmother did good....sharing true delights with you of this music... to hear Yma so young like that. No wonder it conjures good memories. She was one of Earths treasures.

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  4. Creo que es una de las más grandes voces de la humanidad.

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  5. Yma Sumac was truly one-of-a-kind. I've never heard anyone sing like her to this date.

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  6. Thank you for that! I can hear the sound poring at the Casa windows. I come here for the culture!

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  7. Anonymous4/09/2017

    she is fantastic!!!! i can't explain my emotions right now... all i can say is that it's better than anything !!! I have never heard of her. a great drag number.

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  8. This woman had incredible range. Amazing. Great music to flood the house with , with the windows open.....haunting the neighborhood.

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  9. I'm familiar with Yma Sumac but haven't heard her sing in a long time. Thanks for resurrecting this incredible voice.I could easily see her singing the Queen of the Night aria from "The Magic Flute".

    This video made me want to dance. Did you ever try to Mambo with a bad back??

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    1. Well, lets just say, I didn't get a sore back at times from the Mambo.

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  10. The most incredible of singers, with a truly awesome range... Eat shit, Mariah Carey! Jx

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    1. Cheers to that sister Gin Blossom 🍸🍻🍸

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  11. Uf! Comment disappeared. Hope you don't end up with two from me... Anyway, Yma Sumac was amazing. Maria Carey and HER 5 octaves can just go home! (I don't know about you but I've been having a hell of a time in recent days with blogspot problems.)

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  12. Wow! I was startled as I listened and heard the range of her voice.

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    1. Yes, I could see that. When you hear her for the first time it catches you by surprise.

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