
Bel Canto
A Performer's Guide
Robert Toft(Author)
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 31. January 2013
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-19-983232-3 (ISBN)
Description
The art of bel canto, or 'beautiful singing,' is perhaps the most referenced and yet the most enigmatic and elusive style in the repertoire of the classically trained singer. During the bel canto era of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, composers routinely left the final shaping of recitatives, arias, and songs to performers. Vocalists in turn treated scores as a starting point for interpretation and personalized the music as their own, rather than merely giving voice to the score as written, transforming otherwise inexpressively notated music into passionate declamation. In other words, singers saw their role more as one of re-creation than of simple interpretation. Familiarity with the range of strategies prominent vocalists of the past employed to unlock the eloquent expression hidden in scores enables modern singers to take a similar re-creative approach to enhancing the texts before them.
In this first ever guide to the bel canto style, author Robert Toft provides singers with the tools they need to bring scores to life in an historically informed manner. Replete with illustrations based on excerpts from Italianate recitatives and arias by composers ranging from Handel to Mozart, each chapter offers a theoretical discussion of one fundamental aspect of bel canto, followed by a practical application of the principals involved. Drawing on a wealth of documents surviving the era, including treatises, scores, newspaper reviews, and letters, this book reflects the breadth of practices utilized by singers of the bel canto era, affording modern day vocalists the opportunity to not only how singers altered and embellished the texts before them, but also to develop their own personal style of doing so. Complete with six complete aria scores for performers to personalize through bel canto techniques, and a companion website offering demonstrations of the principles explained, Bel Canto is an essential resource to any singer or vocal instructor looking to explore and master this repertoire.
In this first ever guide to the bel canto style, author Robert Toft provides singers with the tools they need to bring scores to life in an historically informed manner. Replete with illustrations based on excerpts from Italianate recitatives and arias by composers ranging from Handel to Mozart, each chapter offers a theoretical discussion of one fundamental aspect of bel canto, followed by a practical application of the principals involved. Drawing on a wealth of documents surviving the era, including treatises, scores, newspaper reviews, and letters, this book reflects the breadth of practices utilized by singers of the bel canto era, affording modern day vocalists the opportunity to not only how singers altered and embellished the texts before them, but also to develop their own personal style of doing so. Complete with six complete aria scores for performers to personalize through bel canto techniques, and a companion website offering demonstrations of the principles explained, Bel Canto is an essential resource to any singer or vocal instructor looking to explore and master this repertoire.
Reviews / Votes
Recommended. * S. C. Champagne, Choice *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Illustrations
154 examples, 6 scores, 7 halftones
Dimensions
Height: 178 mm
Width: 251 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
471 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-983232-3 (9780199832323)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
01/2013
Oxford University Press Inc
€153.40
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
12/2012
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€28.49
Available for download

E-Book
12/2012
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€28.49
Available for download
Person
Robert Toft has pursued a career as a researcher, performer, and vocal coach. He has published four books on the history of singing between the 16th and 19th centuries and has given lectures, workshops, and master classes on historically-informed performance in Canada, USA, Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, and Australia. Currently, he is Professor of Music at The University of Western Ontario.
Content
Contents ; Abbreviations ; Part 1 The Principles of Bel canto ; 1. Introduction ; 2. Phrasing ; 3. Altering Rhythm and Tempo ; 4. Tonal Contrast, Register, Vibrato ; 5. Ornamentation ; 6. Dramatic Action ; Part 2 Bel canto in Practice ; Handel, "Armida dispietata/Lascia ch'io pianga" (Rinaldo, 1711/1731) ; Handel, "O worse than death indeed/Angels ever bright and fair" (Theodora, 1750) ; Gluck, "Sposa Euridice/Che faro senza Euridice" (Orfeo ed Euridice, 1762) ; Sarti, "Lungi dal caro bene" (Giulio Sabino, 1781) ; Mozart, "Voi che sapete" (Le nozze di Figaro, 1786) ; Mozart (arr. Bishop), "Love! ever leave me" ; Bibliography