This authoritative, new edition of the world's most loved songs and arias draws on original manuscripts, historical first editions and recent research by prominent musicologists to meet a high standard of accuracy and authenticity. Includes fascinating background information about the arias and their composers as well as a singable rhymed translation, a readable prose translation and a literal translation of each single Italian word.

This authoritative, new edition of the world's most loved songs and arias draws on original manuscripts, historical first editions and recent research by prominent musicologists to meet a high standard of accuracy and authenticity. Includes fascinating background information about the arias and their composers as well as a singable rhymed translation, a readable prose translation and a literal translation of each single Italian word.

Initiating a new series of coordinated diction manuals and anthologies, this book helps students to move beyond diction to clear understanding and authentic style. Thomas Hampson says, 'This guide not only achieves an excellent study of the tools for proper translation and diction, it goes much deeper and more importantly to the teaching of musical and poetic expression from the inner side of the language.' Every German example word or phrase is translated into English and is also spoken perfectly on the included CD by trained actress Dr. Nora Henry, from Hanover, Germany.

Great masters of lieder from Beethoven to Richard Strauss are represented among 48 songs that have been chosen for their appeal to young singers. Musical excerpts studied in Gateway to German Diction appear as complete scores. The 48 lieder contained here are only a sampling of the wonderful world of German art songs. We hope that this book is a Gateway to German Liederin the sense of giving access to a realm of imagination and expression created by some of the greatest composers ever known. This book brings together various kinds of information that would other wise require research in various books. The commentary pages that precede the songs will help the singer especially with the preparatory steps that should precede actual singing: translating the text, analyzing its meaning, reciting it with correct and expressive diction, and researching the relevant historical background. The goal is artistic communication with an audience, based on the singer's clear understanding of the message and meaning of the song. German tempo and style markings are translated on the pages where they are used. Tempos in Romantic style are never absolute and never metro- nomic, but metronome markings are provided as a starting point. 

Great masters of lieder from Beethoven to Richard Strauss are represented among 48 songs that have been chosen for their appeal to young singers. Musical excerpts studied in Gateway to German Diction appear as complete scores.

Twenty great composers of Italian art songs from Scarlatti to Puccini are represented in songs that have been chosen for their appeal to young singers. Musical excerpts studied in Gateway to Italian Diction appear as complete scores.

Twenty great composers of Italian art songs from Scarlatti to Puccini are represented in songs that have been chosen for their appeal to young singers. Musical excerpts studied in Gateway to Italian Diction appear as complete scores.

As part of a series of coordinated diction manuals and anthologies, this book helps students to move beyond diction to clear understanding and authentic style. Thomas Hampson says the series, 'not only achieves an excellent study of the tools for proper translation and diction, it goes much deeper and more importantly to the teaching of musical and poetic expression from the inner side of the language.' Every Italian example word or phrase is translated into English and is also spoken perfectly on the included CD by linguist and native Italian Dr. Anna Siragusa.