English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach

by Amanda Johnston, Angela Meade (Foreword by)

Overview

Amanda Johnston provides a comprehensive resource offering a modern approach to lyric diction and a thorough analysis of German and English.

The third edition expands the discussion of many crucial concepts, such as stylistic diction choices for musical theatre, the varied treatment of “R” across genres, healthy glottal onsets, and the correct formation of the elusive epsilon, the curly-tail “J,” and the extended epsilon. Unique features include the deconstruction of the schwa and the illustration of the rhythmic timing and release of consonants within musical examples.

The book includes extensive oral drills, musical examples, as well as a multimedia package of chapter-by-chapter video clips and an e-workbook on IPA character transcription. It is designed for the study of both English and German lyric diction, either consecutively or simultaneously, and is a valuable resource for singers, vocal coaches, voice teachers, and collaborative pianists alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538193730
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/15/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	360

About the Author

Canadian collaborative pianist and vocal coach Amanda Johnston is professor of music at the University of Mississippi where she is music director for the opera theatre, teaches advanced diction, and coaches undergraduate and graduate singers. She is also instructor of German at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA).

Table of Contents

Contents

Musical Examples

Foreword

Preface

PART I: INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1: Elementary Concepts

PART II: ENGLISH

Chapter 2: Introduction to English Diction for Singers

Chapter 3: English Phonemes

Chapter 4: The Structure of English

Chapter 5: Characteristic English Phonemes

Chapter 6: Vowels 55

Chapter 7: Glides and Approximants

Chapter 8: Consonants

Chapter 9: Advanced Concepts in Diction

Chapter 10: Common Pitfalls

PART III: GERMAN

Chapter 11: Introduction to German Diction for Singers

Chapter 12: German Phonemes

Chapter 13: The Structure of German

Chapter 14: Characteristic German

Chapter 15: Vowels

Chapter 16: Consonants

Chapter 17: Advanced Concepts in Diction

Chapter 18: Common Pitfalls

PART IV: ENGLISH AND GERMAN—COMMON GROUND

Chapter 19: Commonalities between English and German

Chapter 20: Legato Singing

Chapter 21: Close but No Cigar

Chapter 22: Lyric Diction in Opera

Chapter 23: Concise History of the English Language

Chapter 24: Concise History of the German Language

Appendix A: Glossary of Phonetic and Anatomical Terms

Appendix B: Supplements

Appendix C: Suggested Repertoire for Lyric Diction Study

Notes

Bibliography

Index

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach has long been an indispensable guide for both my students and me. The new edition wonderfully expands the toolbox and introduces new concepts which will undoubtedly serve to make this new edition the reference manual for teachers and active performers in both opera and musical theater.”

Kevin Short

The analogy is an excellent example of the author's skill in enlivening the study of diction. Voice teachers and coaches will find this volume a useful addition to their libraries; those diction courses that combine English and German will find in this a tailor-made text.

Journal of Singing

English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach is written as a text for undergraduate- and graduate- level voice students and vocal coaches....English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach is a musical, linguistic, and physical explanation of vocal production in English and German for singers. Each sound is prefaced with a brief description, three to five words or short phrases to isolate the sound, phonetic spelling using IPA, and for German, the English translation of the word(s). Musical excerpts of German art songs are presented with IPA printed below the text. The explanation of the position of the mouth, tongue, and lips for each vowel and consonant is extremely detailed. This information is beneficial to both voice teachers and choral conductors desiring to develop a choral unified sound. This textbook, paired with the study of conversational German, is a useful tool for music educators and vocal performers.

Music Educators Journal

This book shows Johnston's extensive background in lyric or singing diction and also in the German language. . . . This book can be used for various courses of study for singers and is also a good reference work to possess for any singer or coach as a valuable tool for preparing a vocal performance. In addition it can be used by ESL students and also for undergraduate graduate studies either in separate English and German diction courses or as a combined course.

American Music Teacher

English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach is written as a text for undergraduate- and graduate- level voice students and vocal coaches....English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach is a musical, linguistic, and physical explanation of vocal production in English and German for singers. Each sound is prefaced with a brief description, three to five words or short phrases to isolate the sound, phonetic spelling using IPA, and for German, the English translation of the word(s). Musical excerpts of German art songs are presented with IPA printed below the text. The explanation of the position of the mouth, tongue, and lips for each vowel and consonant is extremely detailed. This information is beneficial to both voice teachers and choral conductors desiring to develop a choral unified sound. This textbook, paired with the study of conversational German, is a useful tool for music educators and vocal performers.

Music Educators Journal (MENC)

The analogy is an excellent example of the author's skill in enlivening the study of diction. Voice teachers and coaches will find this volume a useful addition to their libraries; those diction courses that combine English and German will find in this a tailor-made text.

Journal Of Singing