Totemism

O'Death (traditional dirge)

O' Death is a traditional American folk song. Its original author is unknown.

O' Death is found in white and black-American tradition from Texas to the

Georgia Sea Islands and is availabletoday in widely contrasting settings:

unaccompanied vocal solo, hillbilly duet (with guitars),bluegrass band, voice

and piano etc. Some place the song on the lips of a dying slave beaten
by a cruel plantation mistress, or on the lips of a Kentucky hill-preacher

stricken by the Lord for ignoring His call. Diamanda's performance of this dirge

is monumental and larger than life. Her mezzo-tinged soprano offers a dark

coloring to sound the miseries and consolation of death. Her singing has, through

and through, a striking sense of immediacy. She has taken the essence of being

and purified it into an otherworldy ambiance. We are enriched through heightened

perception. We have in a flash been granted a conception of being that we did not
previously have, and that is the sign of a truly great artist-singer. The piano part is

darkcolored and concentrated, but also profoundly lyrical and fiercely alive in every

fiber of its troubled being. The beauty and ease of her singing, and the natural ability

to float her voiceeffortlessly is a wonder. O'Death,replete with gratifying legato.

This is an unreleased recording.

 

 

[A dirge is a somber song or lament expressing mourning or grief, such as would

be appropriate for performance at a funeral.]

 

Photo:Allan Amato