I was asked to listen to three different versions of the same excerpt of the aria Summertime from Porgy and Bess for this assignment. For this purpose, I decided to use Soundcloud as an open platform for people to post their works. Specifically, on Soundcloud, I listened to the following three pieces in their entirety:
- Marie-Elaine Gagnon — Summertime from Porgy and Bess – 2:43
- Peter Hamilton Orchestra — Summertime (From Porgy and Bess) – 2:49
- MadeleineW — Summertime from Porgy and Bess – 1:44
Each version of the aria was performed in a completely different genre and arrangement. The first, by Gagnon, was a classical piano version, Peter Hamilton Orchestra performed a jazz-orchestral arrangement, and MadeleineW sang Summertime in the format of a children’s lullaby vocalization. The differences in performances are reflected in the feel and sensation of listening. I found MadeleineW’s version the most frightening since lullabies are often the soundtracks for horror movies. Perhaps the most enjoyable version for me was the jazz version by the Peter Hamilton Orchestra, as it gave the familiar aria a new look and freshness and was performed in one of my all-time styles. Jazz is about freedom and energy, so any piece played in this arrangement automatically strikes me as exciting and noteworthy. The piano version was good and could be seen as a typical example of classic music, but I found such a variation a bit boring and of little interest. On the contrary, in the jazz version, one hears tones, hears history, and different moods. Even if the listener gets tired while listening to jazz, he or she will quickly return to engaging because of the dynamism of the genre.