Instructional Material For Opera & Classical Singers

George Dodds : Voice Placing and Training Exercises - Low Voice

Review: A series of carefully graded progressive exercises to improve singing technique, for both solo singers and choirs. Includes exercises focussing on breathing and breath control, the production of vowel-sounds and consonants, good singing technique, and ear-training.

Songlist: Warm ups and exercises

Voicing: Low

George Dodds : Voice Placing & Training Exercises - Soprano and Tenor

Review: A series of carefully graded progressive exercises to improve singing technique, for both solo singers and choirs. Includes exercises focussing on breathing and breath control, the production of vowel-sounds and consonants, good singing technique, and ear-training.

Songlist: Voice Placing Exercises for Loose Throat, Forward Tone and Resonance, Tongue Loosening Exercises, Sustained Notes, Attack, Flexibility and Rhythm, Voice Placing Exercises, Sustained Notes, Breath Pressure Variation, Attack and Staccato, Flexibility and Rhythm, Voice Placing Exercises, Flexibility, Major Scales and Arpeggi, Attack, Staccato, and Legato, Minor Scales, Breath Pressure Variations, Range Extension and Ear Training, Single Vowel-Sounds, Compound Vowel-Sounds, Consonants, Breath Pressure Variations

Voicing: Soprano Tenor

Robert Toft : Bel Canto - A Performers Guide

Review: Bel canto, or 'beautiful singing,' remains one of the most elusive performance styles vocalists strive to master. During the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, composers routinely left the final shaping of recitatives, arias, and songs to performers, and singers treated scores freely so that inexpressively notated music could be turned into passionate declamation. In other words, vocalists saw their role more as one of re-creation than of simple interpretation. Familiarity with the range of strategies prominent singers of the past employed to unlock the eloquent expression hidden in scores enables modern performers to take a similar re-creative approach to enhancing the texts before them.In this first ever guide to bel canto, author Robert Toft provides singers with the tools they need not only to complete the creative process the composer began but also to bring scores to life in an historically-informed manner. Replete with illustrations based on excerpts from Italianate recitatives and arias by composers ranging from Handel to Rossini, the book offers discussions of the fundamental principles of expressive singing, each section including a practical application of the techniques involved. Drawing on a wealth of documents from the era, including treatises, scores, newspaper reviews, and letters, this book captures the breadth of practices singers used in the bel canto period. Complete with six scores (recitatives and/or arias) for performers to personalize through the old methods, and a companion website offering demonstrations of the principles involved, Bel Canto is an essential resource for any singer or vocal instructor wishing to explore and master historical techniques of interpretation and re-creation from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Songlist: The Principles of Bel Canto, Introduction, Phrasing, Altering Rhythm and Tempo, Tonal Contrast, Register, Vibrato, Ornamentation, Dramatic Action, Bel canto in Practice

Carol Kimball : Song - A Guide to Art Song Style and Literature

Review: Carol Kimball's comprehensive survey of art song literature has been the principal one-volume American source on the topic. Now back in print after an absence of several years, this newly revised edition includes biographies and discussions of the work of 150 composers of various nationalities, as well as articles on styles of various schools of composition.

Songlist: Acknowledgements, Preface, What is Style?, Components of Style, Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, Accompaniment, Poets - Texts, Secondary Factors of Style, Components of Style Overlap, Developing Style Sheets, Creating Style Sheets for Single Songs, Creating Style Sheets for Individual Composers, Style Sheet Examples for Selected Composers, Literature

Cesare Siepi : Voices of the Opera Series

Review: Italian bass Cesare Siepi (born 1923) is one of the legendary opera singers of the 20th century generally considered to be one of the finest basses of the post-war period. He was a star for decades on the world's great opera stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala (Milan) and Covent Garden (London). His Met career was extraordinary, with 450 performances spanning 24 consecutive seasons. In 1962, the charismatic Siepi stretched his talents to perform a lead role on Broadway in Bravo Giovanni!, a musical conceived just for him. His professional career was remarkably long, from his debut at age 18 in 1941 until his retirement from the opera stage in the early 1990s. This edition presents 12 signature arias, with Siepi's distinctive interpretations notated in the score and discussed in essays and explanatory notes. A biography of the singer is included.

Songlist: Deh, vieni alla finestra, Ecco il mondo, Ella giammai m'am?, Fin ch'han dal vino, Infelice! e tu credevi, La calunnia ? un venticello, Le veau d'or, O tu, Palermo, terra adorata, Son lo spirito che nega, Vecchia zimarra, senti, Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni, Vieni, o Levita!... Tu sul labbro de' veggenti

Voicing: Bass
Style: Opera

David Adams : A Handbook of Diction for Singers

Review: Now in its second edition, A Handbook of Diction for Singers is a complete guide to achieving professional levels of diction in Italian, German, and French, the three major languages of the classical vocal repertory. Written for English-speaking singers and offering thorough, consistent explanations, it is an ideal tool for students and an invaluable reference for voice teachers, vocal coaches, and conductors. The book combines traditional approaches proven successful in the teaching of diction with important new material not readily available elsewhere, presenting the sounds of each language in logical order, along with essential information on matters such as diacritical marks, syllabification, word stress, and effective use of the variety of foreign-language dictionaries. Presented in an attractively concise format, the book goes into greater detail than comparable texts, providing specific information to clarify concepts typically difficult for English-speaking singers. Particular emphasis is placed on the characteristics of vowel length, the sequencing of sounds between words, as well as the differences between spoken and sung sounds in all three languages. Featuring significantly expanded coverage of each of the three languages and illustrated with numerous examples, this second edition of A Handbook of Diction for Singers is an exceptional text for courses in diction and a valuable reference source for all vocalists.

Songlist: Introduction, International Phonetic Alphabet Symbols for Italian, Italian Vowels, Glides in Italian, Italian Diacritical Marks, Italian Dipthongs, Italian Tripthongs, Vowel Length In Italian, Italian Consonants, Single and Double Consonants, More About Vowels, Phrasal Doubling in Italian, Singing Consonant Clusters, Musical Settings of Italian Diphthongs, Italian Dictionaries, Sample Texts, Appendix, Introduction, International Phonetic Alphabet Symbols for French, French Diacritical Marks, Definition of Terms Relating to French Diction, French Syllabification, Word Stress in French, Mixed Vowels, Nasal Vowels, Glides in French, French Consonants, Liaison, French Dictionaries, Sample Texts, and more

Dorothy Uris : To Sing In English - A Guide to Improved Diction

Review: Dorothy Uris' "To Sing in English" is an invaluable handbook for any singer, particularly the American vocalist, culled from decades of experience as an actress and teacher, on Broadway and in films. As Dorothy Tree, she was a contract player for Paramount and Warners and had featured roles in such films as "Abe Lincoln in Illinois", "The Asphalt Jungle" and "The Men". After her acting career ended ("I left Dorothy Tree in Hollywood!") she taught acting, speech and diction at the Mannes College and Manhattan School of Music for over two decades, and was English diction coach for the Metropolitan Opera. All of this experience results in a practical, thorough step by step approach to improving a singers' diction, including an introduction to learning the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), and the correct pronunciation of individual vowels and consonants, separately and in context. American singers in particular will benifit from the study of this book, as Mrs. Uris uses good American speech as her model.

Songlist: The Many To Thank, Illustrations, Foreword (and Backward), The Range of Diction, Structure, Sense, and Stress, Rhythms Within Words, English, A Legato Language, The Vowel Content of American English, The Shapes and Sounds of the Consinants, Invitation to a Diction Class, Appendices

Estelle Liebling : Vocal Course - Tenor

Review: A method that has long been highly regarded among teachers and students alike. Each of these books consists of 3 parts: Part I describes the vocal mechanism and its function briefly and in simple, non-technical language. Part II consists of basic, fundamental vocalises carefully selected to develop the specific voices for which the book is written. Part III presents the important elements of diction in the 5 languages most commonly used in singing: English, Italian, French, German and Spanish.

Songlist: PART I, The Breath System, The Phonating System, The Resonating System, The Articulating System, General Remarks, PART II, Fundamental Exercises, The Turn, The Soprano Registers, Pianissimo Studies, Staccato Studies, Trill Studies, Messa Di Voce, Style, Special Problems, PART III, English, Foreign Language Diction, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Glossary of Musical Terms, Songs for Tenors, Recordings of Great Singers

Voicing: Tenor

Esther Salaman : Unlocking Your Voice: Freedom to Sing

Review: Esther Salaman's singing career started in 1940 with regular concerts and broadcasts. For the last 30 years she has been teaching and during this period has evolved a distinctive method which many singers - some now famous - have found invaluable in developing their voices. This book covers every aspect of voice production. Ester Salaman discusses her experience of personality behind the voice and comments on the drive and courage needed for a singing career as well as the fears and inhibitions that assail both professionals and amateurs. She has worked with boys' unbroken voices as well as those of adults and her ideas therefore appeal as much to singers in school choirs as to the operatic stage. She gives a detailed plan for vocal health and technical exercises in the form of musical examples. It should be of use to singers of all ages, their teachers and choir trainers.

Songlist: Unlocking Your Voice, The Start of the Note and Vowel Centering, Freedom and Agility, Vibrancy, Expression: Dynamics, Resonance, 'Covering the Sound" and Registers, Your Daily Voice Limbering, Vowels and Consonants, Tension and Performance, Voice Strain and Other Hazards, More About Bel Canto

Garfield D. Davies : Care of the Professional Voice - A Guide to Voice Management for Singers

Review: Singer and actors are a unique group of performers, relying almost entirely on their voice for the professional livelihood. Jet lag, amplification, allergens, stress, pollution, and vocal strain all affect vocal performance. Written for the performer, the teacher, and the vocal coach, Care of the Professional Voice offers clear explanations and medical advice on vocal problems and vocal health. Care of the Professional Voice is written by experts in laryngology in the United States and Great Britain. This new edition includes a singer's guide to self-diagnosis. This volume should become a staple of every singer/actor's library."- James Morris, Metropolitan Opera. "Anyone whose voice is their livelihood will welcome this succinct and user-friendly book." - Sir Anthony Hopkins

Songlist: List Of Illustrations, Forewords by Bryn Terfel, James Morris & Sir Anthony Hopkins, Acknowledgements, Preface, Anatomy and Physiology of the Vocal Mechanism, Development of the Larynx and the Voice, Age and Voice, Attributes of a Good Vocal Performer, General Considerations Before Performance, Laryngeal Disorders: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention, Anxiety, Artistic Temperament and the Voice, Popular Music and the Musical Theatre, Travel and the Vocal Performer, Medications and the Professional Voice, General Medical Considerations in the Vocal Performer, A Visit to the Laryngologist, Surgery and the Vocal Artist, A Singer's Guide to Self-Diagnosis, Suggested Reading, Glossary, Index

Katharin Rundus : Cantabile - A Manual About Beautiful Singing for Singers, Teachers of Singing and Choral Conductors

Review: This vocal pedagogy textbook breaks the mold. Making complex concepts easily understood has been the hallmark of Kathi Rundus' teaching career. Filled with anatomical drawings, pictures, graphs and valuable vocal exercises, this book is wisely and attractively organized. Plus, every chapter includes a section specifically for the choral director! Katharin Rundus is a nationally recognized teacher, conductor and singer. Her most recent performances include: Arianna a Naxos for the inaugural conference of the California Haydn Society, soprano solos for Arvo Paart's Passio, Vaughn Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, Handel's Dixit Dominus, Mozart's Requiem, Haydn's Creation, Beethovan's Mass in C, and Bach's St. John's Passion and B Minor Mass. In addition to her private studio at CSULB, Dr. Rundus is the coordinator of Vocal Studies at Fullerton College, where she also conducts the Chamber Singes and the Women's Chorale. She received her Bachelors of Music from Coe College, her Masters of Music from Westminster Choir College, and her PhD in Musical Arts from the Claremont Graduate University.

Songlist: Release of Tension, Opening the Vocal Tract, Breathing for Singing, Onsets and Releases, Resonance, Registers of the Voice, Focus of the Tone, Articulation, Musical Expression, Vocal Health, Aphorisms for Singing, Feelings and Emotions, List of Illustrations

Kathryn LaBouff : Singing and Communicating in English

Review: In Singing and Communicating in English, internationally renowned diction coach Kathryn LaBouff provides singers with an accessible guide to the principles of English diction they need to communicate the text successfully. Her thorough and much sought-after technique clarifies the physiology of speech, emphasizes the studied practice of careful and articulate pronunciation, and focuses on the study of English cadence. Covering aspects of phonetics from vowels to diphthongs to fricatives, the book includes multiple practical exercises in International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions, helpful diagrams, and pronunciation drills, each chosen from the most essential English art song and operatic repertoire. In addition to standard American and British English, a variety of regional dialects and accents are covered in depth. A companion website features a full range of vowel/consonant drills, poems read aloud by the author and by theater and voiceover actor John Keating, as well as an exercise answer key, and publishers' lists to help the singer locate a vast array of English language works for performance. This book is an invaluable resource for all vocalists (both professional and aspiring), diction instructors, teachers, and coaches, and choral directors. Kathryn LaBouff teaches English Diction and English Vocal Literature at the Juilliard School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Diction Coach for the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and Washington Opera, she has coached and prepared more than 300 professional opera productions in English.

Songlist: Foreword, Introduction to Diction, Communicating the Thought, Introduction to Vowels, The Fronting Vowels, The Backing Vowels, The Mixed Vowels, Dipthongs, The Three Semi-Vowel Glides, Introduction to Consonants, The Plosives, The Fricatives, The Nasal Consonants Plus the Lyrical L, The Owner's Manual, Singing in the British Dialect, The Mid-Atlantic Dialect, Afterword, Appendices, Glossary, Music Publisher's Guide, Selected Bibliography and Resources, Index of Song Texts, General Index, Exercise Guide

Lilli Lehmann : How to Sing

Review: This remarkable book is one of the most influential works on the art of singing ever written. Its author was one of the first great international superstars of opera. German soprano Lilli Lehmann enjoyed a long and brilliant career that began in Prague and Danzig and soared to the heights of operatic renown in Berlin, Vienna, London and New York. Coached by Wagner himself, she took part in the first complete Ring cycle at Bayreuth in 1876, and sang in the first performances of Tristan and Isolde and the complete Ring cycle in America.

Songlist: My Purpose, Preliminary Practice, Of the Breath, Of the Breath and Whirling Currents (Singing Forward), The Singer's Physiological Studies, Equalizing the Voice - Form, The Attack and the Vowels, Nasal-Nasal Singing-Singing Toward the Nose-Covering the Tone-Chanter Dans Le Masque-Nasal Twang, The Head Voice, The Sensation and Position of the Nose-the Nose Form, The Sensations of the Palate, The Sensation of the Resonance of the Head Cavities, On Vocal Position-Three Are No Vocal Registers-Propaation-Form, White Voices, Theodor Wachtel and the Vocal Technique of Tenors, The Highest Head Tones-Staccato, The Tremolo, The Cure, The Tongue, The Position of the Mouth (Contraction of the Muscles of Speech), Connection of Vowels, The Lips as a Means of Expression, The Vowel-Sound AH of Former Days, Italian and German, Auxiliary Vowels, Resonant and Disconnected Consonants, Practical Exercises, The Great Scale, Velocity, Trill, and more

Style: Opera

Lillian Nordica : Hints to Singers

Review: Rather than a technical book on singing techniques, this volume contains many priceless pointers that Lillian Nordica acquired through experience. She discusses early training and the choice of a teacher; the cultivation of calmness, self-control, and confidence; overcoming obstacles such as self-consciousness and stage fright; and stage fright; and numerous other important skills that lead a singer toward success. Her practical counsel ranges from the advantages of wearing comfortable attire to the caution required when signing contracts.

Songlist: Choice of Singing as a Profession, Choice of a Teacher and Where to Study, How to Study, Obstacles to Be Met With and How to Overcome Them, Stage Deportment: Either Concert or Opera, Concert, Opera and Its Apprenticeship, Wagner, Singer and Audience, The Making of a Career

Style: Opera

Linda Lister : So You Want to Sing Light Opera

Review: So You Want to Sing Light Opera is a concise handbook for performers, teachers, and directors who want to learn more about the delightful genre of light opera, including Viennese operetta, English comic opera, French opera bouffe, and Spanish zarzuela. Award-winning opera director and singer Linda Lister brings clarity to this often misunderstood and overlooked category of music with detailed information on how to prepare and perform roles with stylistic and musical sensitivity and to deliver spoken dialogue and choreography with confidence. 

Lister focuses on the attributes of a light opera performer, light opera singing style, historical references, audition advice, directing insights, extensive repertoire recommendations Singing professionals, teachers, students, conductors, stage directors, coaches, and choreographers will find this book to be an ideal resource for the style.

Richard Miller : On The Art Of Singing

Review: Of all of the performance arts, that of singing is the most complex and its preparation and practice the most fraught with controversy. Teachers argue over the best method, and students often move from teacher to teacher in search of the ultimate vocal style. Technique is only one aspect of the singer's art, however. Considerations of musical and performance style, career development, and long-term vocal health are also vital to the successful singer. This exciting new collection of essays is the first book to look at the art of singing in its totality. Written in a direct, non-technical style, On the Art of Singing is a comprehensive manual that deals with all aspects of singing, from the physiology and acoustics of the singing voice to career building. Divided into four main section - vocal pedagogy, style and interpretation, professional perparation, and vocal technique, the book is structured such that the reader may pick and choose as personal interests and need dictate. Written by a master singer and instructor well known for his work on the scientific aspects of singing, On the Art of Singing is essential reading for everyone involved in singing of the art and technique of the voice.

Songlist: On Training the Singing Voice, On Musical Style and Interpretation, On Preparation for the Professional Life, On the Singing Voice and Vocal Function

Richard Miller : Securing Baritone Bass-Baritone And Bass Voices

Review: Perhaps the most renowned writer in the field of vocal pedagogy, Richard Miller has delivered a new and outstanding contribution to the study of vocal technique in Securing Baritone, Bass-Baritone, and Bass Voices . The first thorough and comprehensive treatment of low male voices, this book draws on techniques and practical advice from Miller's years of professional experience as a performer and pedagogue. With a unique focus on "securing" the technical stability of the male voice, the book offers practical advice to students, their teachers, and professional performers, through numerous practical exercises and repertoire suggestions appropriate to various stages of development. Miller synthesizes historic vocal pedagogy with the latest research on the singing voice, always emphasizing the special nature of the male voice and the proper physiological functioning for vocal proficiency. An indispensable guide to male low voices, this book is an essential text for performers, aspiring performers, and instructors alike.

Songlist: Who is Baritone?, The Onset, Managing the Breath, Vowel Definition and the Chiaroscuro, Vowel Modification, Moving into Middle Voice, Agility Factor, Further Consideration, More on Positioning of the Larynx, Pedagogic Uses of Falsetto for Baritone, The Phenomenon of Vibrato, Establishing Technical Security, Developing an Individual Tonal Concept, Dynamic Control, Voice Viruses, Contributing to Performance Effectiveness, Performance Preparation and Enhancement, Early Repertoire Suggestions, Choosing Audition Material

Voicing: Baritone Bass
Style: Opera

Richard Miller : Singing Schumann

Review: Singing Schumann is likely to become the standard introduction to some of the best-loved songs in the singer's repertoire. Written by a distinguished performer and internationally known teacher, the book offers astute, practical advice for bringing Robert Schumann's Lieder to life in performance. Richard Miller guides the reader through the interpretation of all of Schumann's solo and duet songs, drawing thoroughly on Schumann's compositional style and its historical background. In addition to covering the "familiar forty"--the much-performed songs Schumann composed in and around 1840 while trying to win the hand of Clara Wieck--Miller takes an in-depth look at the lesser known early and later songs. In particular, he focuses on the rich and varied repertoire of Schumann's later years, challenging the conventional view that these works reflect a decline in the composer's creative powers. Singing Schumann begins with an overview of Schumann as a song composer and then proceeds to survey the entire repertoire, song by song. It features the well-known cycles, including the Eichendorff Liederkreis , Frauenliebe und leben , and Dichterliebe , as well as the Liederalbum fur die Jugend and settings of texts by Goethe, Burns, Ruckert, and Kulmann. Using numerous musical examples, Miller uncovers Schumann's characteristic compositional devices and describes his novel and experimental approaches to the interpretation of texts, often achieved through exceptionally colorful keyboard accompaniments. Musically sensitive and eminently readable, Singing Schumann is an invaluable guide for teachers, coaches, pianists, and singers.

Style: Classical

Richard Miller : Solutions For Singers

Review: While many texts and courses on the art of singing offer comprehensive overviews of technique and performance, few have time to delve into the specific questions they spawn. Solutions for Singers explores these unanswered questions, filling in gaps that professional performers, students of singing, and voice teachers have long sought to close. Fielding over 200 questions, distinguished teacher and performer Richard Miller tackles problems raised during hundreds of his master classes and pedagogy courses. He deliberately avoids abstract generalities, concentrating instead on specific, recurring questions: What are some good exercises to loosen or relax tension in the back of the tongue? Do you apply the same principles regarding breathing to a younger student that you do to older students? What is meant by voiced and unvoiced consonants? Is there a female falsetto? Through such specialized questions, Miller probes the very essence of artistic expression. The questions are organized under ten broad topics, which Miller considers from various angles. He couples traditional and modern philosophies to present the most relevant and precise solutions. The result is an invaluable handbook for singers, which, read either sequentially or selectively, provides a unique and pragmatic approach to vocal artistry and technique.

Songlist: Breath Management, Posture, Laryngeal and Intralaryngeal Function, Resonance Balancing, Nasal Continuants and Non-Nasal Consonants, The Phenomenon of Vibrato, Registration, Healthy Singing, Pedagogy Issues, Performance Concerns

Richard Miller : Training Soprano Voices

Review: A young dramatic soprano should not be forced into a soubrette mold, nor should the soubrette soprano be assigned dramatic tasks. Although all soprano voices have common characteristics, each type has unique features that require a particular approach in teaching. Training Soprano Voices addresses this issue directly by providing a complete and reliable system for training each type of soprano voice. Designed as a practical program for singers, teachers, and voice professionals, it couples historic vocal pedagogy with the latest research on the singing voice. The book emphasizes the special nature of the soprano voice and the proper physiological functioning for vocal proficiency. For each category of voice, Miller supplies a detailed description, recommends appropriate literature, and provides an effective system for voice building, including techniques for breath management, vibratory response, resonance balancing, language articulation, vocal agility, sostenuto, proper vocal registration, and dynamic control. The book concludes with a daily regimen of vocal development for healthy singing and artistic performance. Dozens of technical exercises, vocalization material taken from the performance literature, and numerous anatomical illustrations are included.

Songlist: Catagories of the Female Voice, Registration Events in Female Voices, Making a Beginning, Breath Energy in Singing, The Agility Factor, Resonance in Soprano Voices: Supraglottic Considerations, Nasal Continuants as Assists in Resonance Balancing, Non-Nasal Consonants as Assists in Adjustment of the Resonator Tract, The Sostenuto Factor, Soprano Vocal Registration and Vowel Modification (Aggiustamento), Accomplishing Dynamic Control, The Daily Regimen, The Wedding of Emotion and Skill

Voicing: Soprano
Style: Opera

Royal Stanton : Steps to Singing for Voice Classes

Review: This outstanding volume is well-known for its simplicity, inclusiveness, and integrity to the fundamentals of the art of singing. The late Royal Stanton - an experienced teacher; the founder of Schola Cantorum, a symphonic choir of 150 voices; and a composer and arranger of many nationally published pieces - wrote with the flair to engage and hold the interest of newcomers venturing into the organized process of singing. His nine-step format provides students the opportunity to build on their voice-training achievements. Singing is more than endless exercises and technical devices, and Stanton's methods have proven effective in guiding beginning students from their initial tentative approaches to phonation, to the outer edges of performance and the rudiments of interpretation. Learning the joys of controlled singing in a friendly environment encourages beginners to think of singing as a natural, peer-approved activity.

Songlist: Making Preparations, Breathing to Sing, Making Tone, Coloring Tone, Putting The Parts Together, Learning To Perform, Learning Musicianship, Making Singing Meaningful, Moving Toward Artistry, Seven Steps to Learning a New Song, A Sample Vocal Performance Evaluation Form, Musicianship Information for Singers, Song Collection

Shirlee Emmons : Researching The Song

Review: Singers are faced with a unique challenge among musicians: they must express not just the music, but the lyrics too. To effectively communicate the meaning behind these words, singers must understand the many references embedded in the vast international repertoire of great art songs. They must deal with the meaning of the lyrics, frequently in a language not their own and of a culture unfamiliar to them.From Zelter and Schubert to Rorem and Musto, Researching the Song serves as an invaluable guide for performers, teachers, and enthusiasts to the art song repertoire. Its more than 2,000 carefully researched entries supply information on most of the mythological, historical, geographical, and literary references contained in western art song. The authors explain the meaning of less familiar literary terms, figures, and authors referenced in song while placing songs in the context of larger literary sources. Readers will find entries dealing with art songs from the German, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish, South American, Greek, Finnish, Scandinavian, and both American and British English repertoires. Sources, narratives, and explanations of major song cycles are also given. Organized alphabetically, the lexicon includes brief biographies of poets, lists of composers who set each poet's work, bibliographic materials, and brief synopses of major works from which song texts were taken, including the plots of all Restoration theater works containing Purcell's vocal music.The more performers know and understand the literary elements of a song, the richer their communication will be. Researching the Song is a vital aid for singers and teachers in interpreting art songs and building song recital programs.

Songlist: Introduction, Researching the Song, Abbreviations

Shirlee Emmons / Alma Thomas : Power Performance For Singers

Review: To perform well in today's highly competitive world where technical skills have been advanced to an unprecedented degree, a singer must be able to handle incredible pressure within the performing arena; his or her ability to deal with this stress will often determine whether he or she will succeed. Why, then, do singers with less technical skill sometimes out-perform stars? Why do some stars suddenly stop performing? What is that mysterious factor that makes an electric performance? Consistent, competent performances do not depend solely upon superior vocal skills, nor are they a matter of luck. On the contrary, the best performances result from a combination of mental attitude, concrete performing skills, and excellent technical skills in that order. Yet most singers have never had the opportunity to acquire the essential skills that make for a successful career.Written as a self-help manual for singers at all levels of expertise, Transcending the Performance Barriers is designed to teach performing artists, and especially singers, how to experience elite performance at their level. The skills outlined in this book will help singers use what they have, to enjoy their voices during performance, and to perform consistently to the best of their present ability.

Songlist: This Thing Called Performance, The Characteristics of Peak Performance, What is Mental Toughness?, The Performance Cycle: Plans and Routines, The Self and Performance: You, the Person; You, the Performer, Physical Well-Being and Relaxation, Setting Goals, Developing Self-Confidence through Positive Thinking, The Art of Concentrating, Distractions, Dealing with Anxiety, Imagery in Performance, Memory, The Coach's Place in Singer's Preperformance Work, Exploring and Planning "Meaning" for Performance, The Audition and the Competition, The Coach's and/or Accompanist's Place in Singers' Audition, Competition, and Performance Work, Fear in Performance, Postperformance Management, Staleness and Burnout in Performers, Mental Rehabilitation following Vocal Injury or Illness, Exercise Forms, Teaching Points

Brent Monahan : The Singer's Companion

Review: The Singer's Companion combines the author's extensive research on hundreds of professional singers' and singing teachers' books with 30 years of personal teaching experience. The book concentrates on traditional vocal and artistic development, as employed at the most renowned universities and conservatories. At the same time, the presentation is extremely practical and accessible. The language is simple, and minimal space is given to theory. As each aspect of good singing and artistry is explained, enlightening quotations from dozens of the best singers and teachers, such as Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti, Eileen Farrell, Manuel Garcia, and Emma Seiler, help the singer to grasp the concept. The building of the vocal instrument and the artist is the focus. Topics include stance, breathing, phonation, resonance, range, health, choosing a teacher, vocal exercises, musicianship, pronunciation and diction, interpretation, performance, and selecting material. Many illustrative diagrams appear in the text. The book includes exercise sheets, sample songs, and an illustrative CD. Any singer, from the would-be professional to the diligent choir member, can benefit from this easy-to-use, thorough companion.

Songlist: Stance, Breathing / The Torso, Phonation / The Throat, Resonance / The Head, Range And Timbre, Singing And Health, The Teacher / The Lesson, Practice / Vocal Exercises, Musicianship, Pronunciatiation And Diction, Interpretation, Performance

Nicola Vaccai : Practical Vocal Method - High Voice

Review: Vaccai's masterly Method won increasing popularity with time, and was eventually used in conservatories all over the world. Even today it is often used by singing teachers, who consider it a collection of attractive Ariettas, each serving a particular function. And it is quite easy material, perfect for the beginning student.

Songlist: The Scale, Intervals of a Third, Intervals of a Fourth, Intervals of a Fifth, Intervals of a Sixth, Intervals of a Seventh, Intervals of an Octave, Semitones, Syncopated Mode, Introduction to Roulades, Ascending and Descending Appoggiaturas, The Acciaccatura, Intro to the Mordent, Different Types of Mordent, Intro to the Turn, The Turn, Intro to the Trill, Roulades, The Vocal Portamento, The Second Type of Poratamento, The Recitative, Epilogue

Voicing: High
Style: Opera

Jennifer Hamady : The Art Of Singing

Review: Jennifer Hamady has performed the world over with many of the top names in the music business. Also a voice coach to television actors, Broadway performers, and award-winning vocalists, she has written a ground-breaking book on singing and the psychology of performing that is a must-read for every artist working today. Using the medium of the voice, Jennifer shares her insights and experiences as a coach and a singers that will opern your eyes to how we all - musicians and non musicians alike - allow fear, doubt, preconceived notions, and overthinking to get in the way of clear, healthy, optimal singing - and living. The accompanying CD - in Jennifer's own voice - captures a conversation about her ideas and journey, as well as excercises that will help you discover and release your true and best instrument. Performers of all ages and abilities will gain valuable insight into the mechanics, psychology and physiology of singing.

Georg Frideric Handel : 3 Steps to Sing Handel Messiah - Alto

Review: Here is a practical learning tool for church and community orchestras who want to streamline the rehearsal process for preparing Handel's Messiah. New choristers will appreciate the opportunity to learn at their own pace and veteran singers will enjoy an easily accessed refresher course! - Visual Learning DVD - A voice part recorded by professional singer (Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass). The notes and words are displayed on the screen and change color in time with the music - all you have to do is join in as if singing a duet to learn your part. - Voice Part Rehearsal Audio CD - In this second step a narrator guides you, telling you when to sing and calling out where you are so that you don't get lost. Rehearse using your vocal score (available separately) and you will soon know the words and be singing the right notes. - Chorus Backing Track CD - Put what you've learned into practice with the third step, the Chorus Backing Track CD. Listen for your part and sing along with the choir and background music - it's like singing with a real choir.

Voicing: Alto

Georg Frideric Handel : 3 Steps to Sing Handel Messiah - Bass

Review: Here is a practical learning tool for church and community orchestras who want to streamline the rehearsal process for preparing Handel's Messiah. New choristers will appreciate the opportunity to learn at their own pace and veteran singers will enjoy an easily accessed refresher course! - Visual Learning DVD - A voice part recorded by professional singer (Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass). The notes and words are displayed on the screen and change color in time with the music - all you have to do is join in as if singing a duet to learn your part. - Voice Part Rehearsal Audio CD - In this second step a narrator guides you, telling you when to sing and calling out where you are so that you don't get lost. Rehearse using your vocal score (available separately) and you will soon know the words and be singing the right notes. - Chorus Backing Track CD - Put what you've learned into practice with the third step, the Chorus Backing Track CD. Listen for your part and sing along with the choir and background music - it's like singing with a real choir.

Voicing: Bass

Georg Frideric Handel : 3 Steps to Sing Handel Messiah - Soprano

Review: Here is a practical learning tool for church and community orchestras who want to streamline the rehearsal process for preparing Handel's Messiah. New choristers will appreciate the opportunity to learn at their own pace and veteran singers will enjoy an easily accessed refresher course! - Visual Learning DVD - A voice part recorded by professional singer (Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass). The notes and words are displayed on the screen and change color in time with the music - all you have to do is join in as if singing a duet to learn your part. - Voice Part Rehearsal Audio CD - In this second step a narrator guides you, telling you when to sing and calling out where you are so that you don't get lost. Rehearse using your vocal score (available separately) and you will soon know the words and be singing the right notes. - Chorus Backing Track CD - Put what you've learned into practice with the third step, the Chorus Backing Track CD. Listen for your part and sing along with the choir and background music - it's like singing with a real choir.

Voicing: Soprano

Georg Frideric Handel : 3 Steps to Sing Handel Messiah - Tenor

Review: Here is a practical learning tool for church and community orchestras who want to streamline the rehearsal process for preparing Handel's Messiah. New choristers will appreciate the opportunity to learn at their own pace and veteran singers will enjoy an easily accessed refresher course! - Visual Learning DVD - A voice part recorded by professional singer (Soprano, Alto, Tenor or Bass). The notes and words are displayed on the screen and change color in time with the music - all you have to do is join in as if singing a duet to learn your part. - Voice Part Rehearsal Audio CD - In this second step a narrator guides you, telling you when to sing and calling out where you are so that you don't get lost. Rehearse using your vocal score (available separately) and you will soon know the words and be singing the right notes. - Chorus Backing Track CD - Put what you've learned into practice with the third step, the Chorus Backing Track CD. Listen for your part and sing along with the choir and background music - it's like singing with a real choir.

Voicing: Tenor

Mathilde Marchesi : Bel Canto: A Theoretical & Practical Vocal Method

Review: Bel canto (Belcanto, bel canto) (Italian, beautiful singing), an Italian musical term, refers to the art and science of vocal technique which originated in Italy during the late sixteenth century and reached its pinnacle in the early part of the nineteenth century during the Bel Canto opera era. Bel canto singing characteristically focuses on perfect evenness throughout the voice, skillful legato, a light upper register, tremendous agility and flexibility, and a certain lyric, "sweet" timbre. This volume embodies Madame Marchesi's "vocal alphabet," or basic instructions and exercises that formed the voices of her great pupils. An introductory text discusses breathing, attack, registers and similar matters, while the remainder of the book contains many exercises and vocalises that teach voice management and projection. Marchesi's book is today even more important than when it first appeared, for it offers the basis for a construction of the bel canto training system. At the time the book appeared, the bel canto system had gone out of fashion in favor of more modern schools that seemed to offer more rapid maturation, voice volume, and dramatics. Today, a more realistic reevaluation has revealed that the bel canto system gave the singer much longer performing life, a more pleasing voice, and far greater musical ability. As Phillip Miller states in his introduction, "a solidity, a sure technical mastery, an even scale with no register break... strong, even and secure trills, their coloratura masterly." In addition, the resurgence of interest in early 19th century opera renders a work like Marchesi's indispensable to the modern singer.

Songlist: Part One: Elementary and Progressive Exercixes for the Development of the Voice, Chromatic Slur, Diatonic Slur, Portamento, Scales, Exercises for blending the Registers, Exercises on two notes, Exercises on three notes, Exercises on four notes, Exercises on six notes, Exercises on eight notes, Chromatic Scale, Minor Scales, Exercises for Flexibility, Varied Scales, Repeated Notes, Triplets, Arpeggi, Messa di Voce (Swelled Sounds), Apoggiatura - Acciaccatura (Crushed Note) - Mordente, The Turn, The Shake (Trill), Shakes by Thirds, Part Two: Development of the Exercises in the Form of Vocalises, Attack, Portamento, Sostenuto, Diatonic Scale, Dotted Diatonic Scale, Minor Scale, and more

Style: Opera

Enrico Caruso : Voices of the Opera Series

Review: Enrico Caruso rose from a childhood of poverty in Naples to become the first great tenor and superstar of the recorded era. His fearlessly pure, lyric vocalism and heartfelt acting still come through, even on the scratchy old recordings. This collection of arias and songs associated with the tenor includes an interesting biography, an article about his artistry, and notes on the signature Caruso interpretation of each aria, followed by standard vocal/piano editions of all the arias. This collection affords a careful musical consideration of a legendary artist.

Songlist: 'A vucchella (Tosti), Addio, fiorito asil from MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Puccini), Amor ti vieta from FEDORA (Giordano), Celeste Aida from AIDA (Verdi), Che gelida manina from LA BOH?ME (Puccini), Cielo e mar! from LA GIONCONDA (Ponchielli), Core 'ngrato (Cardillo), Dai campi, dai prati from MEFISTOFELE (Boito), E lucevan le stelle from TOSCA (Puccini), Ideale (Tosti), L'alba sep?ra dalla luce l'ombra (Tosti), La donna e mobile from RIGOLETTO (Verdi), Santa Lucia (Cottrau), Una furtiva lagrima from L'ELISIR D'AMORE (Donizetti), Vesti la giubba from I PAGLIACCI (Leoncavallo)

Voicing: Tenor
Style: Opera

Erik Bergman : Four Vocalises for Mezzo-Soprano & Male Voices

Review: 'Four Vocalises for Chorus' is a great collection of warm-ups for your choir.

Songlist: Four Vocalises

Voicing: Mezzo-Soprano

Franco Corelli : Voices of the Opera Series

Review: Franco Corelli (8 April 1921 - 29 October 2003) was an Italian tenor who had a major international opera career between 1951 and 1976. Associated in particular with the spinto and dramatic tenor roles of the Italian repertory, he was celebrated universally for his thrilling upper register. Dubbed the "Prince of tenors", Corelli possessed handsome features and a charismatic stage presence which endeared him to audiences. He had a long and fruitful partnership with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City between 1961-1975. He also appeared on the stages of most of the major opera houses in Europe and with opera companies throughout North America. As in the previous volumes in this series, 11 arias from Franco Corelli's signature tenor repertoire is presented with specific interpretive details noted, including melodic variants, breaths, fermatas, and all other nuances. Includes an artist biography, as well as an article about Corelli's unique artistry. In Italian and English.

Songlist: Ah! S?, ben mio...Di quella pira, Come un bel d? di maggio, La fleur que tu m'avais jet?e, La vita ? inferno all'infelice...O tu che in seno agli angeli, Nessun dorma!, Non piangere, Li?!, Se quell guerrier io fossi!...Celeste Aida, Svanir le voci!...Meco all'altar di Venere...Me protegge, S?, fui soldato, Un d? all'azzurro spazio, Una parola sola...Or son sei mesi

Voicing: Tenor
Style: Opera

Gaspare Spontini : Singing Method

Review: Gaspare Spontini (1774-1851) was a respected opera composer and voice teacher in the Italian bel canto tradition. This edition is a modern rendering of the manuscript of his vocal method, and includes exercises in intonation, interval singing, vocal flexibility, delivery, and expression. This volume brings to light for the first time the teaching method of Gaspare Spontini (1774-1851), composer, conductor, and teacher with a deep knowledge of singing...This method would be excellent for training singers who expect to perform classical repertoire of some difficulty. Even if this is not the goal of the singer, the method is a direct and clear approach to developing both the voice and the musicianship of the student.--Journal of Singing

John Glenn Paton : Gateway to German Diction

Review: As part of a series of coordinated diction manuals and anthologies, the fully reproducible Teachers' Supplementary Materials for Gateway to German Diction helps students to move beyond diction to clear understanding and authentic style. Supplemental instructional, review, and testing materials are included in the book. 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."

John Leavitt : 31 Bach Chorales for Sight-Singing and Performance

Review: John Leavitt has selected and edited 31 Bach chorales for choirs to sight-read and perform. Each chorale includes English and German texts along with historical background and pedagogical suggestions to help your singers build skills and develop musical literacy. This collection of accessible masterworks is a great tool for school, church and community groups!

Songlist: A Mighty Forest Is Our God, Ah! Dearest Jesus, Holy Child, Alas, Dear Lord, All Darkness Flies Before Thy Face, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!, Awake Us Lord We Pray To Thee, Beside Thy Cradle Here I Stand, Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light Eternity Tremndous Word, From Depths Of Woe I Cry To Thee , From Saba Came The Kings From Afar, How Shall I Fitly Meet Thee, Jesus Bread Of Life From Heaven, Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring, Jesus Priceless Treasure, Lord Jesu Blessed Prince Of Peace, Now Thank We All Our God, O Sacred Head Now Wounded, Praise To God, Preserve Thy Faith From Error Free, Rejoice And Sing, The Day Hath Dawned the Day of Days, The Lord Hath Dawned All These Wonders Wrought, The Sorrow Thou Art Bearing, The Will Of God Be Always Done, Thee With Tender Care I'll Cherish, Then Let Us Feast, This Proud Heart Within Us Swelling, Today He Opens Us The Door, What God Does Ever Well Is Done, Within Yon Gloomy Manger Lies

Lynn Eustis : Finding Middle Ground Music for Young Sopranos

Review: Defining a singer's voice type is one of the most difficult and important challenges facing today's voice instructor. This volume provides ten worthy selections appropriate for young sopranos and mezzo-sopranos that fall between these voice types, which are perfect for helping to discover a singer's eventual vocal classification. Historical information, range, teaching tips, and translations of the foreign-language pieces expertly guide the teacher and student through each piece.Lynn Eustis, soprano, is associate professor of voice at the University of North Texas and appears regularly as a soloist with numerous professional organizations. She earned a doctor of music in opera from Florida State University, a master of music in opera from the Curtis Institute of Music, and a bachelor of music in voice from Bucknell University.

Songlist: lascia ch'io pianga, Sailor's Song, The Fatal Hour, Abendstern, Warum willst du And're fragen?, Anzoleta avanti la regata, Le papillon et la fleur, Hai Luli!, In the Highlands, The Stranger Man

Voicing: Soprano children

Marilyn Horne : Voices of the Opera Series

Review: Marilyn Horne (b. January 16, 1934, Bradford, Pennsylvania) is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer who is particularly associated with the music of Rossini and Handel. She began her career as a light lyric soprano; however, as the years progressed, the voice settled and matured into a mezzo-soprano instrument with a full and rich timbre equipped with extreme flexibility and great size. She specialized in roles requiring a large sound, beauty of tone, excellent breath support, and the ability to execute difficult coloratura passages. This collection features celebrated arias as interpreted by the great Marilyn Horne. In addition to a brief biography, each selection, in standard voice and piano format, is followed by notes which indicate the variants, breaths, fermatas, and all of the nuances that Horne employed to turn these arias into masterpieces of interpretation. A wonderful reference tool for vocal coaches, professional singers and voice students.

Songlist: Belt? crudele (Rossini), Cruda sorte! Amor tirrano! from L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI (Rossini), Oh Patria! - Di tanti palpiti from TANCREDI (Rossini), Il risentimento (Rossini), Il trovatore (Rossini), L'invito (Rossini), Mura felici from LA DONNA DEL LAGO (Rossini), Una voce poco fa from IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA (Rossini)

Voicing: Mezzo-Soprano
Style: Opera

Mathilde Marchesi : The Marchesi Vocal Method

Review: This very complete guide to Marchesi's style of vocal training has everything from a written guide for students, to a wealth of different exercises, each with instructions on vowel use and mouth placement. This method has been in use now for almost 100 years and has been of great use to singers of all styles. A tried a true means to get the most out of your voice.

Songlist: Practical Guide for Students, Exercises for Blending the Registers, Chromatic Scale, Minor Scales, Exercises for Flexibility, Varied Scales, Repeated Notes, Triplets, Arpeggi, Messa de Voce (Swelled Tones), The Appoggiature, The Turn, The Trill, Trills Separated by a Third, Development of the Exercises in the Form of Vocalises

Style: Classical

Nicola Vaccai : Practical Method of Italian Singing

Review: The vocal methods of Nicola Vaccai (1790-1848) are well-known to classical singers and voice teachers around the world. Ricordi was the original publisher of Vaccai.

Voicing: Bass

Nicola Vaccai : Practical Method of Italian Singing - Baritone or Mezzo-Soprano

Review: Learning to sing means beginning an artistic journey full of rich and unexpected experiences. human voices touch hearts in every nation and yet the best singing has qualities that Italy originated and taught the world to admire. Singing can approach a quality of timeless beauty, yet songs preserve for us the feelings of particular times, whether recent or long ago. Singing gives both the singer and the listener a sensation of freedom and heartfelt expression. Vaccai's masterly Method won increasing popularity with time, and was eventually used in conservatories all over the world. Even today it is often used by singing teachers, who consider it a collection of attractive Ariettas, each serving a particular funtion. And it is quite easy material, perfect for the beginning student. This method book is tailored towards Baritone or Mezzo-Soprano (Alto) voices.

Songlist: La Scala, Intervalli Di Quarta, Intervalli Di Sesta, Intervalli Di Settima, Intervalli Di Ottava, I Semitoni, Modo Sincopato, Introdzione Alle Volate, Le Appoggiature Sopra E Sotto, Introduzione Al Mordente, Introduzione Al Gruppetto, Introduzione Al Trillo, Le Volate, Modo Per Portare La Voce, Il Recitativo, Riepilogo

Voicing: Mezzo-Soprano Baritone
Style: Classical

Nicola Vaccai : Practical Method of Italian Singing - Mezzo-Soprano/Baritone

Review: The vocal methods of Nicola Vaccai (1790-1848) are well-known to classical singers and voice teachers around the world. Ricordi was the original publisher of Vaccai.

Voicing: Baritone

Nicola Vaccai : Practical Method of Italian Singing - Soprano - Tenor

Review: The vocal methods of Nicola Vaccai (1790-1848) are well known to classical singers and voice teachers around the world. Ricordi was the original publisher of Vaccai.

Voicing: Soprano

Nicola Vaccai : Practical Method of Italian Singing for High Soprano

Review: Learning to sing means beginning an artistic journey full of rich and unexpected experiences. human voices touch hearts in every nation and yet the best singing has qualities that Italy originated and taught the world to admire. Singing can approach a quality of timeless beauty, yet songs preserve for us the feelings of particular times, whether recent or long ago. Singing gives both the singer and the listener a sensation of freedom and heartfelt expression. Vaccai's masterly Method won increasing popularity with time, and was eventually used in conservatories all over the world. Even today it is often used by singing teachers, who consider it a collection of attractive Ariettas, each serving a particular funtion. And it is quite easy material, perfect for the beginning student. This method book is tailored towards High Soprano voices.

Voicing: Soprano
Style: Opera

Nicola Vaccai : Practical Method of Italian Singing for Soprano or Tenor

Review: Learning to sing means beginning an artistic journey full of rich and unexpected experiences. human voices touch hearts in every nation and yet the best singing has qualities that Italy originated and taught the world to admire. Singing can approach a quality of timeless beauty, yet songs preserve for us the feelings of particular times, whether recent or long ago. Singing gives both the singer and the listener a sensation of freedom and heartfelt expression. Vaccai's masterly Method won increasing popularity with time, and was eventually used in conservatories all over the world. Even today it is often used by singing teachers, who consider it a collection of attractive Ariettas, each serving a particular funtion. And it is quite easy material, perfect for the beginning student. This method book is tailored towards Soprano and Tenor voices.

Voicing: Soprano Tenor

P. Mario Marafioti : Caruso's Method of Voice Production - The Scientific Culture of the Voice

Review: This historic volume, dedicated to the great tenor and published shortly after his death, explains clearly and scientifically how Caruso achieved his phenomenal voice production. Written by a noted laryngologist and student of voice who devoted much of his career to working with Caruso and other singers, the book proposes a method of voice culture based on well-defined physiological laws. According to Dr. Marafioti, there is only one right way to sing - a method based on the scientific principles of voice culture. Although Caruso instinctively sang that way, the methods can be learned by any singer.

Songlist: Enrico Caruso, the Master of Natural Singing, The Aim of This Book, Who Will Read This Book?, The Decadence of the Art of Singing and Its Causes; Its Restoration, The Voice in Its Natural Production: New Principles on the Mechanism of Voice Production, Some Suggestions for a Radical Reform in Voice Culture, The Human Voice in Its Relationship to Science, Brief Outline of the Anatomy of the Vocal Organs, Seven Principles of Singing, Caruso's Method of Singing as Explained by Himself, The Radical Reform of Voice Culture Through the Speaking Voice, The Voice in its Relationship to Music; the Importance of the Speaking Voice in Voice Culture, Who Should Teach Voice Culture and How, The Italian Vowls and Consonants as Fundamental Phonetic Elements for Voice Culture, The Articulation of the Italian Consonants; Speaking Exercises for a Correct Voice Production, Vocal Exercises of the Scientific Culture, A Word from a Laryngologist to Singers

Style: Opera

Pasquale Bona : Rhythmical Articulation (A Complete Method)

Review:

Shirlee Emmons / Stanley Sonntag : The Art of the Song Recital

Review: Since its original publication, the Emmons-Sonntag text has continually stood out as the definitive work on the song recital. The book presents imaginative advice and practical techniques for producing successful recitals and kindling audience excitement. Every aspect of the recital is covered, from building programs and the use of acting skills to the relationship between the singer and the accompanist. Singers of all levels and backgrounds will benefit from the authors' vast experience in the performance of song recitals as a singer/accompanist team. The comprehensive repertoire lists, now organized by voice and instrumentation as well as by composer, appeal to both students and professional musicians. Readers will agree that the authors have met their goal of providing "extensive, throughgoing, and definitive insights into the attributes that can render the song recital at once a great art and a magnificent entertainment."

Songlist: The Song Recital, Program Building, Constructing Sample Programs, More Sample Programs, The Unique Needs of the Young Artist, The Singing Actor, The Accompanist, Recital Tactics and Strategies, Musical and Literary Research, Methods of Study and Memorization, New Music, Vocal Ensemble Music, The Song Cycle, Folk Music and Popular Music, The Need for Change & Innovations, Appendix, Bibliography

Style: Classical

Richard Walters (Editor) : The Lieder Anthology - Pronunciation Guide

Review: With IPA and word for word translations and CDs of recorded diction lessons This is a companion to The Lieder Anthology, edited by Virginia Saya and Richard Walters, with 65 songs by 13 composers. The diction lessons were recorded by Irene Spiegelman, German coach at the Metropolitan Opera. The diction for each song is recorded twice: first recited as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and the mood, followed by a slow, deliberate lesson, allowing time for the student to repeat each line. This experienced language coach adapts the R in German in the slow versions as recommended for classical singers. She is also very sensitive to liaisons between word sounds in the musical settings.

Style: Classical