10 Vocal Pedagogy Treatises before 1900
Observation of Florid Song - 1723 Italian, 1743 English
PIER FRANCESCO TOSI
- Most important treatise of the 18th Century because if was the first FULL treatise on singing.
- Tosi was a castrato who addressed his treatise to the soprano voice
- uses the terms "Voce di Petto" (Chest voice) and "Voce di Testa" (head voice)
- Tosi addresses registration as a concept, but never elaborated on it in his treatise.
Practical Reflections on the Figurative Art of Singing 1774
GIAMBATTISTA MANCINI
- Mancini was a Castrato
- Wrote about two registers: Head (Falsetto) and Chest
- Essentially fills in the details that Tosi left out of his treatise.
- Mancini did not specify how he would strengthen the weak register but spoke of the importance in uniting the two!
The Art of Singing 1857
CARLO BASSINI
- this was the most popular and important text on singing published in America.
- Bassini had a pedagogic heritage of Garcia.
- Emphasized registration
- The Art of Singing defines the art of Bel Canto singing, the best of Bel Canto 18th and 19th Centuries.
The School of Singing 1873
F.W. ROOT
- Student of Carlo Bassini
- Root believed that there was no point in studying the voice unless the studnet had certain basic musicianship skills in place.
- He encouraged teachers to follow a method, rather than a haphazard formula for each student.
The Mechanism of the Human Voice 1880
EMIL BEHNKE
- believed that exact scientific knowledge is necessary for singing.
- used X-Rays to study the lungs and muscles of the throat.
- researcher on speech and speech disorders
The Art of Singing according to Ancient Traditions and Personal Experience 1884
FRANCESCO LAMPERTI
- teaching based on oral tradition (contrast to Garcia)
- this meant "traditional" vocal terminology that lacked the physiological terms of Garcia.
- Lamperti method:
1. purity of tone
2. voice on the breath
3. emphasis on legato style
Art du Chant 1884
MATHILDE MARCHESI
- Studied with Manuel Garcia II
- vocal training at a slow and deliberate pace, believed in elementary vocal studies
- importance of technical and aesthetic nature of singing (fusion of Garcia and Lamperti)
- Importance of uniting registrations.
A Method of Singing 1884
JULIUS STOCKHAUSEN
- studied with Manuel Garcia II
- believes in three elements of singing:
1. Pitch
2. Power
3. Quality
- wrote about vocal articulations: Portamento, messa di voce, staccato, legato, martellato, tenuto, aspirato
Hints on Singing 1894
MANUEL GARCIA II
- this is the shortened version of "A complete treatise on the art of singing" which had two versions 1847/1872.
- Written in socratic style (Q&A)
- Clarifies Coup de la glotte
- Edited by his student Herman Klein.
- Contains vocalises
- Garcia would not explain technicalities that were not essential for good vocalization to his students.
Position and Action in Singing 1897
EDMOND J. MYER
- anti- Garia
- a proponent of the no effort school, which is in opposition to the "local effort school".
- felt false vocal folds resistance was an essential balancing factor to the breath pressure which powers the voice...... . . . . . . riiiiiight...
And there you have it. :-)
Name that Treatise without looking...
1723 Tosi
1774 Mancini
1857 Bassini
1873 Root
1880 Behnke
1884 x 3 authors: Marchesi, Lamperti, Stockhausen
1894 Garcia II
1897 Myer
