Composing for Voice: A Guide for Composers, Singers, and Teachers

by Barker; Paul

• ISBN13: 9780415941877
• ISBN10: 0415941873
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2003-10-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Although there have been many texts on the art of singing, and others on composition, there are none on the unique challenges of composing for the voice. This book, written by a well-known contemporary composer and pedagogue, fills that gap by offering a comprehensive survey of issues surrounding both the singer and the composer. The book primarily focuses on classical vocal music, but also draws on examples from jazz, Broadway/theatrical, operatic, and popular music. From understanding the mechanics of the voice through techniques to wed text to music, this book will aid both composers and vocalists to better understand each other's craft.

Author Biography

Paul Barker is a composer, conductor, and lecturer. He was Senior Lecturer Hertfordshire University (UK), in opera and music from 1996-2000. He is a resident of Colonia Reforma Iztaccihuatl, Mexico

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
List of Musical Examples	p. xiii
The Voice Today: An Evaluation	p. 1
Vocal versus Non-Vocal	p. 1
The View Back	p. 7
How the Voice Works: A Composer's Perspective	p. 15
Vocal Categories	p. 19
Legato and Leaps	p. 21
Air and Breath	p. 26
Dynamics	p. 29
Flexibility and Stamina	p. 32
Composing Between the Notes	p. 35
Extended Voice Techniques	p. 40
Voice/Text/Music	p. 43
Text and Music	p. 43
Text and Voice	p. 48
The Nature of Language	p. 53
The Nature of the Singing Voice	p. 55
Vowels	p. 56
Diphthongs	p. 58
Consonants	p. 59
Sibilants	p. 60
Vibrato	p. 61
Text Effect	p. 63
Nudity and Performance	p. 63
Text Underlay in Scores	p. 65
Singing and Speaking	p. 68
The Singer and the Actor	p. 75
Differences Between Singers and Actors	p. 75
Similarities Between Singers and Actors	p. 81
The Synthesis of Music, Dance, and Drama	p. 82
Considerations of Style	p. 85
The Last Romantic Artist	p. 85
A Shopping List	p. 90
Some Composers' Solutions	p. 94
Singers on Composers	p. 141
Singers' Biographies	p. 141
Conclusions and a Way Forward	p. 153
The Ultimate Challenge of the Voice	p. 153
How Our Audience Hears	p. 158
Male and Female Voices: Reason versus Emotion	p. 160
Going for a Song	p. 164
Toward a Compositional Theory	p. 169
Educational Activities	p. 177
Street Songs	p. 180
Composing on One Note	p. 181
Songs without Words	p. 181
Words without Songs	p. 182
Identical Texts	p. 182
Time Limits	p. 184
One Breath	p. 184
Writing a Song for Children to Hear	p. 184
Improvisation	p. 185
Further Projects	p. 186
Vocal Nomenclature	p. 191
Soprano	p. 191
Mezzo-Soprano	p. 192
Alto	p. 192
Male Alto/Countertenor	p. 192
Tenor	p. 192
Baritone	p. 193
Bass	p. 193
An Application of the International Phonetic Alphabet	p. 195
Bibliography and Further Reading	p. 197
Index	p. 199
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