The attitude of the pupil, in singing, should be as natural and easy as possible. Mathilde Marchesi, Bel Canto: A theoretical & practical vocal method. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. The image above says it all. Here are two audio examples to demonstrate the importance of the neck position for singing. Example one demonstrates aContinue reading “Sticking your neck out (literally)”
Tag Archives: bel canto technique
Recommended Reading and Listening: Bel Canto/The Old Italian School of Singing
I have found the following books, manuals and listening to be a ‘pathway’ to studying a way of singing that some refer to as ‘Bel Canto’. Others may refer to it as the ‘Old Italian School of Singing’. Others may describe it as the ‘Italian School of Singing’. (For me, the last description is unreliableContinue reading “Recommended Reading and Listening: Bel Canto/The Old Italian School of Singing”
Appoggio
A month ago, I completed the mandatory New Zealand Managed Isolation Quarantine (“MIQ”). (New Zealand does not have Covid-19 in the community. Therefore, the country sets about quarantining every person who arrives in New Zealand from overseas, in isolation, for two weeks). Naturally, during my time in MIQ, I could not vocalize. Therefore, I setContinue reading “Appoggio”
Jeanne Jomelli
What a find on You Tube this morning! Dutch Soprano Jomelli (1879-1932), student of Mathilde Marchesi, singing an exercise from Herman Klein’s ‘Phono – Vocal’ method. This singing is informative on many levels. The onset, gentle vibrato, the lightness of production, delicate use of messa di voce, the sound of chiaroscuro, portamento, legato and more.Continue reading “Jeanne Jomelli”
Demo of page 71 of Garcia’s ‘Art of Singing’
On page 71, Garcia teaches us how to sing plain passages. In this post, I am going to try out his instructions on a short passage from Lucia’s Mad Scene. See the audio files below. Plain Style Garcia writes, on page 71 of his Treatise, ‘”..chief resources are – steadiness of voice, true intonation, choiceContinue reading “Demo of page 71 of Garcia’s ‘Art of Singing’”
Tracing Porpora
In 2021, I will be performing live. All of these concerts are building upon the techniques I am studying in historical vocal pedagogy. These live concerts are listed on this website. One of these concerts is called “Tracing Porpora”. This concert will be performed in May 2021, with Dr John Linker at the Christchurch TransitionalContinue reading “Tracing Porpora”
Practising
If practice is left for any odd minutes when you do not particularly want to do anything else, you will never get very far. Dame Nellie Melba, Melba Method, page 14. During Covid-19 I have begun the steps to transform myself into a coloratura soprano, mainly for the purpose of retraining myself into the 19thContinue reading “Practising”
Isolation in Sydney – Opera House
If you have visited Australia you know what a drawcard this iconic Opera House is. I love this photo as it would normally be impossible to capture an… Isolation in Sydney – Opera House
Peter Dawson
Peter Dawson, (31 January 1882 – 27 September 1961), Australian Baritone. Australia produces fine singers. Today’s blog post features the singing of, Australian Baritone, Peter Dawson. It is obvious, by listening, that Peter Dawson, born in Adelaide in 1882, was trained in the Old Italian Method of Singing to produce Bel Canto. Dawson’s sound quality isContinue reading “Peter Dawson”
Lucie Manen exercises demonstrated
Here are some demonstrations of techniques from pages 26 until 31 of Lucie Manen’s book ‘The Art of Singing’. On a previous blog, I demonstrated the onset of the note using the larynx mechanism. Here is a demonstration of the onset using both the larynx mechanism and, the main resonator, the pharynx mechanism. Manen writesContinue reading “Lucie Manen exercises demonstrated”
