Description
Sir Keith Falkner amasses the views of world authorities on singing in different musical contexts giving a broad overall picture of the mechanics, the art and craft of singing providing a comprehensive and detailed introduction to the voice.
Part One: The Singer and the Voice deals with the fundamentals of using the voice.
Part Two: Becoming a Singer covers the progress from the initial training of a singing voice to its exploitation in whatever the chosen context may be.
Part Three: The Singer’s World features articles on singing in the principal Western languages.
Finally, there are indispensable contributions by other famous and respected names from the world of singing including Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Allen, Frederick Lloyd, Sir Charles Groves, Gerald Moore, Tito Gobbi, Dame Janet Baker and Sir David Willcocks. These look at all facets of the voice giving expert advice and the benefit of their experience.
Contents
Introduction by Yehudi Menuhin
Editor’s Preface
Part One – The Singer and the Voice
1. Ancestral Voices – Keith Falkner
2. The Physiology og the Voice – A S Khambata
3. What Every Singer Should Know about the Voice – Alfred Alexander
4. The Secret World of the Singer – Macdonald Critchley
Part Two – Becoming a Singer
5. Training: the Singer as Technician – Keith Falkner
6. Training: the Singer as Musician – Keith Falkner
7. Early Stages – Meriel St Clair
8. The Post-graduate – Roy Henderson
9. The Young Professional Singer – John McCarthy
10. The Life of a Singer Today – Janet Baker
11. The Amateur – David McKenna
12. Frustrated Professional or Contented Amateur – Philippa Thomson
Part Three – The Singer’s World
13. Text and Voice in English Song – Peter Pears
14. Singing a Folksong – Douglas Kennedy
15. Singing in French – Pierre Bernac
16. The German Lied – Hermann Reutter
17. The Italian Singer – Tito Gobbi
18. Spanish Song – Emilio Nuñez
19. A Singers Survey of American Song – Helen Boatright
20. Russian Song – Martin Cooper
21. The Songs of Scandinavia – Kim Borg
22. Hungarian Song – Rosemary Hardy
23. Choral and Vocal Ensemble – David Willcocks
24. Studying a Role – Thomas Allen
25. Light Opera – Frederick Lloyd
26. The Conductor and the Singer – Charles Groves
27. The Accompanist and the Singer – Gerald Moore
Some Remarkable Voices Preserved on Gramophone Recordings – A S Khambata
Discography – Wayne Turner
Bibliography
About the Author
Keith Falkner studied singing at the Royal College of Music and was a distinguished oratorio soloist, particularly noted for his interpretations of Bach. He became the British Council’s music officer for Italy, promoting English music and giving concerts himself. He moved to America to work as a singing professor at Cornell University and later returned to London to become Director of the Royal College of Music. Falkner worked tirelessly to develop and expand the College and was responsible for overseeing the construction of the South Building, the establishment of an electronic studio and the creation of a Museum of Instruments and Department of Portraits.
Reviews
This is a lively and attractive volume, as varied and colourful in its tones as one might expect from the masters of the many techniques discussed here.
Yehudi Menuhin
