Books containing the rules, pronunciations and correct diction for a wide range of languages designed to aid singers. This is just a small selection of books and audio books available in our Books For Singers which includes exercises, music theory, vocalises, sheet music, audition repertoire, and tuition books for singers of all standards and styles.
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A Handbook of Diction for Singers
by David Adams. Written for the student whose native languge is English, this book is designed to serve as the core text for courses in Italian, German, and French diction required of all voice majors. It is also intended for voice teachers, vocal coaches, conductors, and anyone else who deals with the singing of texts in these languages. The book begins with an overview of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), then provides for each language a list of IPA symbols corresponding to its sound and explains the pronunciation of its specific sounds and sound combinations, with detailed discussion of syllabification and word structure, diacritical marks, vowel lengths, double consonants and consonant clusters, and the use of dictionaries. Illustrated with numerous musical examples and exercises, this text concentrates on the pitfalls that most affect singers.
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A Singer’s Manual of Spanish Lyric Diction
by Nico Castel
Diction coach and tenor at the Metropolitan Opera, shares his knowledge of languages and experience in coaching and teaching (at Juilliard and elsewhere) to help singers master an often neglected language. The author hopes to stimulate interest in Spanish vocal music through this book.
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American Diction for Singers: Singing & Speaking American English (Book/CD)
by Geoffrey G. Forward, Anida Margolis (Illustrator). Teaches correct articulation and diction for singing and speaking Standard American Speech. Contents Include: Introduction to Diction, A brief, but fascinating, history of American speech, Exercises for the Articulators. Speech Sounds, Introduction to Vowels, Tongue Vowels, Lip Vowels, Other Vowels, Diphthongs, Introduction to Consonants, Fricative Consonants, Plosive Consonants, Affricative Consonants, Glide Consonants, Semi-Vowel Consonants, Pronunciation, Pop Pronunciation, Inflections and Intonations, Expressive Singing, Over 100 illustrations, Easy daily exercises, Audio tapes with male and female voice demonstrations
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Coffin’s Overtones of Bel Canto
Phonetic Basis of Artistic Singing
With 100 Chromatic Vowel-Chart Exercises
by Berton. Coffin
This 254 page hardcover book presents many exercises that will make the voice stronger and more musical according to the precepts of Bel Canto, in acoustic phonetics register and musical notation.
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Coffin’s Sounds of Singing
Principles and Applications of Vocal Techniques
with Chromatic Vowel Chart
Berton Coffin
This revised work is the pedagogical source for both the Chromatic Vowel Chart and Coffin’s classic “Overtones of Bel Canto”. It is based on the teaching of the past, utilizing principles and applications of vocal techniques. The Chromatic Vowel Chart defines the vowel colour changes in chromatic progressions for all voices. This work tells how singing principles can be used by relying on the ear, the eye, and the sense of vibration in the body.
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Vowel Chart
Berton Coffin
This vowel chart defines the vowel colour changes in chromatic progressions for all voices. (also included free in ‘Coffin’s Overtones of Bel Canto’ and ‘Coffin’s Sounds of Singing’)
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Diction for Singers
A Concise Reference for English, Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish Pronunciation. by Joan Wall (Editor), Robert Caldwell (Editor). Diction for Singers guides singers to the pronunciation of English, Italian, Latin, German, French, and Spanish. The easy navigation leads the reader from the orthographic spelling to the sound, so she can see the general rules for spellings. Each language section includes quick reference tables showing all vowels and consonants with their common letter groups, and special pronunciations.
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Franz Schubert: 15 Selected German Songs (Book & CD or Digital Audio)
With diction lessons recorded by Irene Spiegelman, German diction coach at the Metropolitan Opera, and piano accompaniments recorded by Laura Ward, this collection of the most often taught Schubert songs is an excellent introduction to lieder. The diction for each song is recorded twice: first recited as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and 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.
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G. Schirmer Opera Anthology: Arias For Bass Complete Package inc Dicton Coach (Book/CD)
This all-in-one package includes the original Arias for Bass book from the G. Schirmer Opera Anthology along with two accompaniment CDs AND the corresponding Diction Coach book/two CD set. Diction Coach includes recorded diction lessons, IPA, and word for word translations. In addition to piano accompaniments playable on both your CD player and computer, the enhanced accompaniment CDs also include tempo adjustment software for CD-ROM computer use.
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G. Schirmer Opera Anthology: Arias For Baritone Complete Package inc Dicton Coach (Book/CD)
This all-in-one package includes the original Arias for Baritone book from the G. Schirmer Opera Anthology along with two accompaniment CDs AND the corresponding Diction Coach book/two CD set. Diction Coach includes recorded diction lessons, IPA, and word for word translations. In addition to piano accompaniments playable on both your CD player and computer, the enhanced accompaniment CDs also include tempo adjustment software for CD-ROM computer use.
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G. Schirmer Opera Anthology: Arias For Mezzo-Soprano Complete Package inc Dicton Coach (Book/CD)
This all-in-one package includes the original Arias for Mezzo-Soprano book from the G. Schirmer Opera Anthology along with two accompaniment CDs AND the corresponding Diction Coach book/two CD set. Diction Coach includes recorded diction lessons, IPA, and word for word translations. In addition to piano accompaniments playable on both your CD player and computer, the enhanced accompaniment CDs also include tempo adjustment software for CD-ROM computer use.
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G. Schirmer Opera Anthology: Arias For Soprano Complete Package inc Dicton Coach (Book/CD)
This all-in-one package includes the original Arias for Soprano book from the G. Schirmer Opera Anthology along with two accompaniment CDs AND the corresponding Diction Coach book/two CD set. Diction Coach includes recorded diction lessons, IPA, and word for word translations. In addition to piano accompaniments playable on both your CD player and computer, the enhanced accompaniment CDs also include tempo adjustment software for CD-ROM computer use.
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G. Schirmer Opera Anthology: Coloratura Arias For Soprano Complete Package inc Dicton Coach (Book/CD)
This all-in-one package includes the original Coloratura Arias for Soprano book from the G. Schirmer Opera Anthology along with two accompaniment CDs AND the corresponding Diction Coach book/two CD set. Diction Coach includes recorded diction lessons, IPA, and word for word translations. In addition to piano accompaniments playable on both your CD player and computer, the enhanced accompaniment CDs also include tempo adjustment software for CD-ROM computer use.
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G. Schirmer Opera Anthology: Arias For Tenor Complete Package inc Dicton Coach (Book/CD)
This all-in-one package includes the original Coloratura Arias for Soprano book from the G. Schirmer Opera Anthology along with two accompaniment CDs AND the corresponding Diction Coach book/two CD set. Diction Coach includes recorded diction lessons, IPA, and word for word translations. In addition to piano accompaniments playable on both your CD player and computer, the enhanced accompaniment CDs also include tempo adjustment software for CD-ROM computer use.
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Chinese and English Nursery Rhymes: Share and Sing in Two Languages [Downloadable Audio Included]
This lovely multicultural children’s book teaches classic fairy tales in both English and Mandarin Chinese. As Mother Goose has known for centuries, rhyme and rhythm are fun! And what could be a more enjoyable way for children and their parents to learn about different cultures and languages than through familiar rhymes and songs? In Chinese and English Nursery Rhymes, an innovative collection of favorite rhymes are put in pairsâ€â€one from China and the next in Englishâ€â€to show how the things that kids love are the same, no matter where in the world they live. Whether your native language is English or Chinese, you can learn the rhymes along with your children.
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Handbook of the International Phonetic Association
A Guide to the Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet
Comprehensive information to IPA with an introduction, phonetic descriptions, IPA chart, IPA notation, illustrations and more, produced by the International Phonetics Association.
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International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers
A Manual for English and Foreign Language Diction
by Joan Wall
A solid foundation for learning all aspects of the sounds of singing, this manual is highly recommended as an aid for singers and teachers. Widely adopted as an auxillary text, the book is designed specifically so that singers can lead themselves through the text.
Joan Wall is a voice professor at Texas Woman’s University, where she has taught diction courses for more than twenty years. She was a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), presenting seminars and workshops, and has had a celebrated international performing career, singing as a principal with the Metropolitan Opera, the Deutche Opera Berlin, and in concerts, operas, and recitals throughout the United States.
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Johannes Brahms: 15 Selected German Songs – High Voice (Book & CD)
With diction lessons recorded by Irene Spiegelman, German diction coach at the Metropolitan Opera, and piano accompaniments recorded by Laura Ward, this collection of the most often taught Brahms songs is an excellent introduction to lieder. The diction for each song is recorded twice: first recited as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and 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.
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Johannes Brahms: 15 Selected German Songs – Low Voice (Book & CD)
With diction lessons recorded by Irene Spiegelman, German diction coach at the Metropolitan Opera, and piano accompaniments recorded by Laura Ward, this collection of the most often taught Brahms songs is an excellent introduction to lieder. The diction for each song is recorded twice: first recited as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and 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.
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Musical Spanish – learn spanish through pop music
Learn Spanish in a fun and interactive way with this combination book, music cd and cd-rom. Using popular songs, musical spanish is suitable for complete beginners to intermediate speakers with tons of free online resources, games and lessons. Fun way to teach or learn Spanish – language and culture. Book, audio CD, and interactive CD-rom, or all audio learn in the car Lessons using pop songs like La Bamba, Las Mananitas, Guantanamera, La Cucaracha, Cielito Lindo, and more! Learn the language naturally through music lyrics! Beginning through intermediate SPANISH for ALL ages
Click Here for more info at MusicalSpanish.
National Schools of Singing: English, French, German, and Italian Techniques of Singing Revisited
In 1977, Scarecrow Press published Richard Miller’s study, English, French, German and Italian Techniques of Singing: A Study in National Tonal Preferences and How They Relate to Functional Efficiency. He compared the historic and then current techniques practiced in the four major Western European schools of vocalism and evaluated technical maneuvers found within each.Recent years have placed greater demands on the vocal talents of professional singers with the growth of performance spaces, the emergence of the stage director, louder orchestral sound, and even the infusion of pop culture sounds into traditional music. As “world culture” continues to expand, and vocal talent becomes more homogenous, the need for continued recognition of lingering national and regional vocal training techniques becomes more important for the singer’s quest to develop a certain style. This update of Miller’s original study incorporates these new concerns with a continued investigation into which techniques within the national schools are common to them all and which idiosyncratic regional tendencies remain.
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Phonetics and Diction in Singing Italian, French, Spanish, German
Phonetics and Diction in Singing was first published in 1967. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. This book provides rules and illustrative examples for the study of songs and operas in the leading foreign languages of musical literature. The author is conductor and chorus master of the Metropolitan Opera. He has drawn the material from his larger book, The Art of Accompanying and Coaching,to provide a handbook or textbook especially suitable for use by voice teachers, singers, students in high schools, colleges, and schools of music, and members of choruses, church choirs, and opera workshops and their directors. Following a general discussion of phonetics and diction in singing there are separate chapters on Italian, French, Spanish, and German phonetics and diction. The text is illustrated with drawings and diagrams of vocal techniques and musical examples.
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Phonetic Readings of Songs and Arias
by Berton Coffin, Ralph Errolle, Werner Singer, Pierre Delattre
Since 1964 the first edition has served singers, teachers of singing, and students of lyric diction as a guide to the correct pronunciation of songs in foreign languages. Lyrics and phonetic transcriptions are presented together, so that a song may be correctly articulated from the first reading. The 413 songs included have been carefully selected from Coffin’s “The Singer’s Repertoire” (1960) and are representative of the most frequently performed vocal repertoire, with songs and arias for all voice classifications. This second edition contains revised German transcriptions with diphthongs altered to be of better acoustical and vocal value in singing, correlated with Coffin’s “Overtones of Bel Canto” (1980).
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Pocket Music Dictionary (Hal Leonard)
The most contemporary music dictionary on the market, comprising: Notation and theory terms, Instruments, including folk and ethnic, Pop music, electronic music and music business terms. More than 450 capsule biographies of composers and musicians, noting dates of birth and death, nationality, historical period, areas of composition and major works. Also includes Instant at-a-glance summaries of the essentials of music: Notation signs and symbols, Scales modes and keysignatures
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Rhinegold Dictionary Of Music In Sound
by David Bowman
This unique and multidimensional resource, for students , teachers and musicians, explains 2,300 musical terms through three different methods: Written definitions. Music notation. Audio extracts. From acciaccatura and fragmentation, to ostinato and vihuela – each one is linked to a scored and audio example. Musical terms are defined, covering western music from the dark ages to the 20th Century. The definitions are backed up by an extensive reference section, including eight chapters on the elements of music: Rhythm, metre and tempo, Tonality, modality and atonality, Melody, figuration and ornamentation, Counterpoint, Harmony, Timbre and texture, The structure of music, Style, genre and historical context. Each musical term in the dictionary is linked to a specially prepared score. For ease of use, precise timings are given so that readers can identify the exact points at which particular compositional details can be heard. Each scored example can be heard on audio CD. There are 274 recorded extracts in total, completing this unique resource.
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Russian Songs and Arias
Phonetic Readings Word by Word Translations by Jean Piatak.
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Sing A Song Of France
Favourite French songs for children to sing and play. An ideal introduction for children to the songs of France, beautifully illustrated and with helpful notes and information. The piano arrangements are very easy, suitable for players of Grade 1 standard.
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Singers Italian: A Manual of Diction and Phonetics
by Evelina Colorni. This book is meant primarily for singers, but may also interest voice teachers, coaches, accompanists, conductors, composers and editors. It deals with Italian phonetics as used in lyric diction and considers the changes that occur between the manner in which a language isspoken and the way it is sung. These changes are due to the inherent differences between speech and song. Since it is written for the singer whose native language is English and who wishes to sing Italian, it is based on a constant comparison between Italian and English. This book guides the singer, by means of discussion and drill, to acquiring an efficient and effective Italian diction.
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Singing American English: Textbook for Diction for Singers
Singing American English helps singers, teachers, and directors to negotiate the many difficulties involved in singing beautiful American English. Designed for use in diction for singers classes, this book is the fruit of more than a quarter-century of teaching by Dr. John T. Blizzard. Now in its second edition, Singing American English is useful also as both a reference and a workbook, full of drills designed for the student to master new information. Readers will learn how to use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as a guide to their understanding, singing, and hearing. Chapters include discussions of the International Phonetic Alphabet, vowels and consonants, diphthongs, triphthongs, glides, and several articles on the relationship of diction to many facets of the performance of songs and arias. Students learn about the concept of the Hellwag Triangle, which, the author states, may be the most important chapter in the entire textbook in terms of their own singing.
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Singing and Communicating in English: A Singer’s Guide to English Diction
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.
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Singing in Czech
A Guide to Czech Lyric Diction and Vocal Repertoire by Timothy Cheek
A much-needed guide for singers, vocal coaches, voice teachers, collaborative pianists, and opera and choral conductors. Practical and authoritative, Part One of this pioneering book takes the reader systematically through each sound of the Czech language, enhanced by a recording of native Czech opera singers. The formation of each sound is described, and when useful, compared to English, the Romance languages, German, and Russian. Every sound is assigned an IPA symbol, along with exercises and examples, always with the technical and expressive considerations of the singing voice in mind. Chapters cover the Czech vowels; consonants; rules of assimilation; approaches to singing double consonants; stress and length; Moravian dialect; and an introduction to singing in Slovak. Part Two presents a thorough overview of Czech vocal repertoire, along with the texts to major song literature and opera excerpts by Smetana, Dvorak, Janacek, Martinu, and Haas, with timings, editions, word-for-word translations, idiomatic translations, and IPA transcriptions. Specific works have been chosen for every voice type, and for every level. Even a work ideal for an Opera Workshop scenes program has been selected. Useful appendices list publishers, organizations, and Czech poets. Timothy Cheek is Assistant Professor of Performing Arts, Vocal Arts at the University of Michigan.
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Singing In English – (The Boosey Voice Coach)
by Mary King
The Boosey Voice Coach is an entirely new concept in vocal training. Not a self-teaching manual, and not filled with off-putting diagrams, this series is a wholly practical guide to singing – learning about technique and interpretation through the repertoire itself. Each volume is devoted to singing in one particular language. In each volume of the series, works from the vocal canon have been selected specifically by Mary King for their technical and musical challenges. Each piece is discussed at length, starting with the words (‘Text’ – including a literal translation as appropriate), moving to general advice about how the song might be approached (‘Notes’), and then addressing the technical difficulties the music presents (‘Skills’). Expressed in clear language, Mary King’s approach is direct, practical and not limited to one particular teaching method. Any student will find that these books enrich and complement their vocal studies. Singing in English: Even for native speakers, the English language presents singers with particular difficulties. How do you manage diphthongs, for example? How do you make consonants clear without spoiling the vocal line? How do you make sense of the story-telling in a strophic folksong? These issues and more are covered in this book, which contains songs with texts in the English language, from Britain and elsewhere.
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Singing In French – (The Boosey Voice Coach)
by Mary King
The Boosey Voice Coach is an entirely new concept in vocal training. Not a self-teaching manual, and not filled with off-putting diagrams, this series is a wholly practical guide to singing: learning about technique and interpretation through the repertoire itself. Each volume is devoted to singing in one particular language or to singing in a specific context. Singing in French shows you the specifics of that language: where should there be a liaison between one word and the next? What mouth shape is needed to produce a tricky vowel sound? What about nasal vowels? Or all those silent consonants? These issues and more are covered in this book which contains songs in French from folksong to Faure, and from the Baroque to the 21st century.
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Singing in French
(A Manual of French Diction and French Vocal Repertoire)
Thomas Grubb, Charles Bennett Grubb. A complete guide to singing in French, with extensive musical examples throughout, as well as exercises for testing proficiency and a catalog of musical selections. Thomas Grubb teaches at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
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Singing in French
by Christopher Goldsack. An introduction to the art of singing in French and interpreting Melodie. Aimed at English speaking singers, Singing In French is a complete introduction to the French language and stylistic guide to French classical art song, known as Mélodie. The volume is an anthology of songs, carefully annotated making extensive use of the International Phonetic Alphabet to guide pronunciation. All the songs are chosen to be appealing and accessible to young or inexperienced singers They cover a variety of composers and periods and each still deserves its place on the modern professional concert platform. The songs included are: Jeunes fillettes – arr. Weckerlin, Tyndaris – Hahn, Guitare – Lalo, Ici-bas! – Faure, Viens! les gazons sont verts! – Gounod, Chanson de Fortunio – Offenbach, En prière – Faure, A Lucette – Pierné, Lydia – Faure, Chanson d’amour – Fauré, Le secret – Faure, Bonjour, Suzon! – Delibes, Ma poupée chérie – de Séverac, Le charme – Chausson, Psyché – Paladilhe, Oiseaux, si tous les ans – Mozart, Ouvre tes yeux bleus – Massenet, Chanson d’avril – Bizet.
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Singing In German – (The Boosey Voice Coach)
by Mary King
The Boosey Voice Coach is an entirely new concept in vocal training. Not a self-teaching manual, and not filled with off-putting diagrams, this series is a wholly practical guide to singing – learning about technique and interpretation through the repertoire itself. Each volume is devoted to singing in one particular language. In each volume of the series, works from the vocal canon have been selected specifically by Mary King for their technical and musical challenges. Each piece is discussed at length, starting with the words (‘Text’ – including a literal translation as appropriate), moving to general advice about how the song might be approached (‘Notes’), and then addressing the technical difficulties the music presents (‘Skills’). Expressed in clear language, Mary King’s approach is direct, practical and not limited to one particular teaching method. Any student will find that these books enrich and complement their vocal studies. Singing in German: Even for native speakers, the German language presents singers with particular difficulties. These issues, a pronounciation guide and more are covered in this book, which contains songs with texts in the German language, from Germany and elsewhere.
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Singing Languages – Singing French (Book/CD)
A must-have collection of 22 fun photocopiable songs and chants for learning French. Ideal for both specialist and non-specialist teachers of French at Key Stages 2 and 3. This book follows the progression of the QCA scheme of work for French at key Stage 2 and is also compatible with the 5-14 National Guidelines for Scotland. The enclosed CD provides performances, teaching tracks and backing tracks.
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The Interpretation of French Song
by Pierre. Bernac
Detailing the understanding and performance of French song, famous French baritone Pierre Bernac provides insight in this book for singers, accompanists, and concert-goers. Texts of over 200 songs are given in French with line-for-line translations in English. This comprehensive approach to the French repertoire also includes tips on pronunciation, performance, and interpretation.
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The Singers’ Manual of English Diction
by Madeleine F. Marshall
This well written book on the phonetics of English diction contains the rules and pronounciations of words in the English language. The book guides performers in singing clearly without the use of regional accents and incorrect pronunciations and whilst seemingly incongrous by todays standards, in the hands of a singer using correct vocal technique it is an essential resource.
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The Singer’s Manual of German and French Diction
by Richard G. Cox, Richard D. Cox
Wadsworth Publishing Company
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The Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet in the Choral Rehearsal
In The Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet in the Choral Rehearsal, Duane R. Karna brings together 30 essays by experts from around the world to describe how the character symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) can be used by singers in the choral rehearsal. Holding firmly to the belief that basic instruction in IPA character is part of a choir’s training, Karna and his contributors see enormous potential for choirs to expand considerably their foreign-language repertoire and save considerable rehearsal time. The Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet in the Choral Rehearsal is the ideal primer for choral directors and choirmasters as well as choir members.
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The Voice, in Speech and Song a View of the Human Voice for Speakers and Singers and All
Being the Singer’s Pronouncing Primer of the Principal European Languages for Which Vocal Music Is Usually Composed.
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Vowels and Consonants:
An Introduction to the Sounds of Languages
by Peter Ladefoged
This introduction to phonetics, with an accompanying CD, should be useful for anyone who wants to learn about the sounds of languages. Peter Ladefoged describes how languages use a variety of different sounds, many of them quite unlike any that occur in well-known languages. People trill their lips and click their tongues when talking in ways that are amazing to English speakers. Several of these unusual sounds are reproduced on the CD. After a brief introduction to the main forces working on the sounds of languages, the acoustic components of speech are described in basic terms, leading up to a demonstration of speech synthesis. There are chapters on computers and speech, one describing text to speech systems, and the other outlining how speech recognition systems work. The last part of the book describes the sounds of a wide variety of languages, introducing them to readers largely by means of the CD that accompanies the book, and by reference to the symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet.
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