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Vocal
Wisdom
by Giovanni Battista Lamperti, Lillian Strongin, William E. Brown (Editor)
This
little book is only $8.95 (currently) and provides many thoughts from
one of the masters of vocal art in the 19th century.
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Training
Tenor Voices
by Richard Miller
Richard Miller's book on training the tenor voice. While some of the information
presented in this volume can be found in his "Stucture of Singing"
(listed below), this book deals with the difficulties of training the tenor
voice and provides explanations on why this voice type is different from
others. |
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The
Structure of Singing: System and Art in Vocal Technique
by Richard Miller
A must have for any serious student and teacher. Miller's book provides
detailed explanations on physical anatomy, the appoggio breathing technique,
resonance and acoustics. He provides exercises with each chapter. |
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On
The Art of Singing
by Richard Miller
An interesting bedside book! The book is a compilation of Miller's writings,
articles and speeches culled from various journals and presentations including
the NATS Journal. Fun to go to every once in awhile to get your mind going!
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Great
Singers on Great Singing
by Jerome Hines
Jerome Hines compiled a series of interviews with numerous famous singers
with whom he sang including Pavarotti, Domingo, Gedda, Kurt Baum, Mario
Sereni, Cornell MacNeill and many others. And while he stresses that no
one can learn to sing from a book, one can gain an insight on what these
individuals were thinking/doing when they sang (most have since retired).
I return to this book time and time again to read various individual chapters.
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On
Studying Singing
by Sergius Kagen
I bought this book years ago and I am glad to see that it is still in print.
While I do not agree with all of Kagen's points concerning technique, he
presents a level headed, nononsense approach on how a singer should approach
his/her art. It is well worth its current triple grande latté and
a scone at Starbucks ($5.95) price!!!
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Singing
the Mechanism and the Technical
by William Vennard
One of the standards. I got mine at a used book store in NYC (Gryphon Books)
for much cheaper than the current price.
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| DICTION/TRANSLATION |
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The
Schubert Song Companion
by John Reed
The complete texts and historical/textual references to all of Franz Schubert's
lieder. Need I say more? |
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The
Ring of Words: An Anthology of Song Texts
by Philip Lieson Miller
Over 300+ line by line translations of song texts in various languages.
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Grammar
and Translation for Italian Libretto
by Richard M. Berrong
A book that explains the antique forms of the language, giving specific
libretto examples and usage. This book is currently available at Patelson's
at well under the list price (almost 1/4 of the price)!!! |
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The
Singer's Manual of English Diction
by Madeline Marshall
The main resource for singing in English since the 1950's. |
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The
Complete Puccini Libretti (2 volumes)
The Complete Verdi Libretti (4 volumes)
French Opera Libretti (2 volumes)
by Nico Castel
Leyerle
Publications
Box 384
Geneseo, NY 14454
These
volumes contain word by word/line by line translations (and when the meaning
is obscure - a paraphrase) along the the IPA. While expensive, these volumes
can be of great use for any opera singer and student. The drawback is that
for just about every voice type there may be numerous libretti in a volume
that may never be used. But even then, I think it is worth it. |
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The Fischer-Dieskau
Book of Lieder:
The Original Texts of over 750 Songs
by Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau
As the title states, over 750 english translations of lieder texts (poetic
not literal). This volume contains many texts not often found in anthologies.
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| INTERPRETATION |
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The
Interpretation of French Song
by Pierre Bernac.
A must have for the student and French chanson enthusiast. This book contains
interpretative insights on both standard and non-standard french art-song.
Bernac also outlines some of the diction/phonetic issues with singing French.
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On
Singers and Singing : Lectures and an Essay
by Reynaldo Hahn, Leopold Simoneau (Translator)
An interesting read. This is a book that I have in my library but to which
I seldom return. For students, get the library copy.
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| ART
SONG |
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The
Art of the Song Recital
by Shirlee Emmons, Stanley Sonntag
Now back in print, this book should be in the possession of every undergraduate
voice student. Emmons details the organization of the song recital and includes
repertoire suggestions in the appendix.
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History
of Song
by Denis Steven
Revised edition (November 1970)
W.W. Norton & Company; ISBN: 0393005364
Amazon.com
currently lists this title as out-of-stock but it should be available
in used book stores. This was the text book for my first vocal literature
class as an undergraduate and I still return to it from time to time.
See if you can get a used copy!
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The Songs
of Brahms
The Songs of Hugo Wolf
The Songs of Robert Schumann
by Eric Sams.
It appears
as if two of these three books are now out of print. Search the used bookstores.
These are excellent resources for the devoté of German lieder.
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| PERFORMANCE |
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A
Soprano on Her Head: Right-Side-Up Reflections on Life and Other Performances
by Eloise Ristad
Looking at performance anxiety and how we get in our own way. For more than
just sopranos, Ristad is actually a pianist and presents an approach suitable
to all musicians.
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The
Inner Game of Music
by Barry Green, W. Timothy Gallwey (Contributor)
In the spirit of the Inner Game of Tennis and other physchological approaches
to improving/enjoying oneself at a specific sport or performing art, this
book is for the musician. |
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Power
Performance for Singers: Transcending the Barriers
by Shirlee Emmons, Alma Thomas
Just started reading this one and am liking it quite a bit. It is really
for the advanced singer/performer. |
