A Handbook of Diction for Singers: Italian, German, French

by David Adams

Now in its second edition, A Handbook of Diction for Singers is a complete guide to achieving professional levels of diction in Italian, German, and French, the three major languages of the classical vocal repertory. Written for English-speaking singers and offering thorough, consistent explanations, it is an ideal tool for students and an invaluable reference for voice teachers, vocal coaches, and conductors. The book combines traditional approaches proven successful in the teaching of diction with important new material not readily available elsewhere, presenting the sounds of each language in logical order, along with essential information on matters such as diacritical marks, syllabification, word stress, and effective use of the variety of foreign-language dictionaries. Presented in an attractively concise format, the book goes into greater detail than comparable texts, providing specific information to clarify concepts typically difficult for English-speaking singers. Particular emphasis is placed on the characteristics of vowel length, the sequencing of sounds between words, as well as the differences between spoken and sung sounds in all three languages. Featuring significantly expanded coverage of each of the three languages and illustrated with numerous examples, this second edition of A Handbook of Diction for Singers is an exceptional text for courses in diction and a valuable reference source for all vocalists.

Genres: Music, Linguistics, Musicals, Textbooks, Reference

248 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Adams spends as much time as possible in the Australian bush, honing survival skills, gold, treasure fossicking, and hunting feral animals throughout Australia. He served as an Officer in the Australian Army Reserve during the post-Vietnam era. Dave has trained alongside members of the United States Marine Corps and Special Air Services SAS personnel. Serving his last two years in the A.D.F as a Platoon Commander Military Police provided him with exposure to law enforcement working closely with his civilian counterparts in the Queensland Police Service. Dave relies on this real-life experience to provide him with authentic characters, settings, and a knowledge of military equipment and procedures. He continues to travel the world in search of exciting settings and characters that he hopes will transport his readers to these exotic places while adding a reality to his books.
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Reviews

[Courtney Dantzler]

now i know (theoretically) how to sound italian, german, and french without having to know a single word. diction is so fascinating, and it's cool to discover how your mouth actually produces these sounds.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely thorough primer on diction that developed my confidence in English, Italian, and German pronunciation. (French, not so much 😬)