Thanks, Kevin!
I've got "THE COMPLETE INTERVIEWS" in my amazon queue/wish list. I've got half a dozen Twain books in my current stack of books that I'm reading, three at a time - one by my sofa, one on my nightstand, and one at work for lunchtime reading. - B. Clay Shannon
From: Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2016 7:03 AM
Subject: Re: Which "low" is meant?
I think they mean soft volume, but perhaps more than that. Twain often
mumbled asides, and his drawl came and went. It may have been a combination
of these things. I'd suggest getting a copy of THE COMPLETE INTERVIEWS and a
copy of my review of that book (which includes page refs) and track how
Twain's stage voice varied. I don't think I specifically discussed the "low
volume" but I noted his changing drawl. Not to oversimplify, but when he was
overseas there's evidence the drawl receded and that he was clearly
understood (and comments about his drawl vanish from reviews of his
lectures), but it returned when he got back on native soil (and so did the
comments in reviews). I vaguely recall Clara making a comment about his
drawl sometimes evaporating, probably in MY FATHER MT, but maybe elsewhere.
The drawl and the mumbling and the voice modulations, which I attach to the
public persona of "Mark Twain" would have been a challenge to perform in the
days before sound systems and in a wide variety of venues with terrible
acoustics.
Kevin
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-----Original Message-----
From: Clay Shannon
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2016 8:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Which "low" is meant?
I'm reading a book by Paul Fatout about Mark Twain on the lecture circuit. =
In it, some reviewers complain that Mark Twain's voice was "low" as he lect=
ured.
Did they mean "low" in tonal range (bassy) or did they mean "low" in volume=
(soft-spoken)?
I assume the latter, as his singing voice has been described as a "beautifu=
l tenor" but would like to know "y'alls" take on it.=C2=A0- B. Clay Shannon
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