Italian Diction: Phrasal Doubling

Introduction to Italian Diction Much information in this presentation is taken directly from Evelina Colorni’s Singers’ Italian. A Manual of Diction and Phonetics. PHRASAL DOUBLING When the final vowel of a certain words precedes a consonant within the phrase, this following initial consonant may have to be doubled, under specific circumstances and according to rules. The final vowel preceding such a consonant will also have to be shortened,...

Zur Rosenzeit Analysis

The translations from the Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s (1749-1832) “Wehmut” from Erwin und Elmire was set (and partially repeated) in the Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) setting for “Zur Rosenzeit” follows. This song was posthumousely published with five other songs in  his op.48, and “Zur Rosenzeit” falls as the fifth song in this unofficial ‘cycle’. Ihr verblühet, süße Rosen,                           You...

Baroque Music: Dieter Gutknecht Article

Gutknecht, Dieter. “Performance Practice of Recitativo secco in the first half of the 18th Century…particularly in Handel’s Operas.” EM 23/3 (2005):473-93. This particular article deals exclusively with the options in performing cadences after a singer has completed a line of recitativo secco in (mostly) Handel’s operas. Performance Practice of recitativo secco in the first half of the 18th century can entail many things, however...

Jazz in 3D Presentation 3/1/11

The direct link to this original post (on the class page) is here. Louis Armstrong: After Louis Armstrong’s arrival in Chicago, then New York (Chicago again) eventually putting down roots in NYC continued on he encountered more and more success. He changed the musical, professional and social development of jazz over a long career that lasted for about 50 years. His ability to select his co-performers for smaller ensembles helped lead to the growth of...