
With Passionate Voice
Re-Creative Singing in 16th-Century England and Italy
Robert Toft(Author)
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 29. January 2015
Book
Paperback/Softback
344 pages
978-0-19-938203-3 (ISBN)
Description
Musicians in the 16th century had a vastly different understanding of the structure and performance of music than today's performers. In order to transform inexpressively notated music into passionate declamation, Renaissance singers treated scores freely, and it was expected that each would personalize the music through various modifications, which included ornamentation. Their role was one of musical re-creation rather than of simple interpretation--the score represented a blueprint, not a master plan, upon which they as performer built the music. As is now commonly recognized, this flexible approach to scores changed over the centuries; the notation on the page itself became an ostensible musical Urtext and performers began following it much more closely, their sole purpose being to reproduce what was thought to be the composer's intentions. Yet in recent years, scholars and performers are once again freeing themselves from the written page--but the tools for doing so have long been out of reach.
With Passionate Voice gives these tools to modern singers of Renaissance music, enabling them to learn and master the art of "re-creative singing." Providing a much-needed historically-informed perspective, author Robert Toft discusses the music of composers ranging from Marchetto Cara to John Dowland in the context of late Renaissance rhetoric, modal theory (and its antecedents in language), and performance traditions. Focusing on period practice in England and Italy, the two countries which produced the music of greatest interest to today's performers, Toft reconstructs the style of sung delivery through contemporary treatises on music, rhetoric and oratory. Toft remains faithful to the ways these principles were explained in the period, and thus breathes new life into this vital art form. With Passionate Voice is sure to be essential for vocalists, teachers and coaches of early music repertoire.
With Passionate Voice gives these tools to modern singers of Renaissance music, enabling them to learn and master the art of "re-creative singing." Providing a much-needed historically-informed perspective, author Robert Toft discusses the music of composers ranging from Marchetto Cara to John Dowland in the context of late Renaissance rhetoric, modal theory (and its antecedents in language), and performance traditions. Focusing on period practice in England and Italy, the two countries which produced the music of greatest interest to today's performers, Toft reconstructs the style of sung delivery through contemporary treatises on music, rhetoric and oratory. Toft remains faithful to the ways these principles were explained in the period, and thus breathes new life into this vital art form. With Passionate Voice is sure to be essential for vocalists, teachers and coaches of early music repertoire.
Reviews / Votes
Although I studied this period whilst reading music at Oxford, it then seemed very dry and not at all passionate ... I am sure that my reaction to the academic study of this music would have been very different if this book had been on the shelves all those years ago! sMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
99 music examples, 5 images, 1 table
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
645 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-938203-3 (9780199382033)
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
02/2015
Oxford University Press Inc
€193.80
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
12/2014
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€23.99
Available for download

E-Book
12/2014
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€18.99
Available for download
Person
Robert Toft has pursued a career as a vocal coach, accompanist, and researcher. He has published five books on the performance practices of singing between the 16th and 19th centuries and has given master classes, workshops, and lectures on historically-informed performance in Australia, Britain, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, and the USA. He is Professor of Music at Western University in London, Canada.
Content
Introduction ; An Age of Rhetorical Persuasion ; Part 1 Preparing the Text ; Words Appropriately Fitted to the Notes ; Part 2 Elocutio : Fine Words and Music ; Every Trope, Every Figure ; Part 3 Pronunciatio: Singing Eloquently and Acting Aptly ; 1. The Art of Vocal Delivery ; All the Senses Satisfied ; Accent and Emphasis ; Pronouncing Distinctly ; Figures and Passionate Ornaments Made Manifest ; 2. A Garden of Embellishment ; Divisions ; Graces ; Part Songs ; 3. Action ; Part 4 Passionate Ayres Pronounced ; 1. The Prosopopoeia in England ; John Dowland, <"Sorrow stay>" ; John Dowland, <"In darknesse let mee dwell>" ; 2. Affetto cantando and Consort Singing in Italy ; Giulio Caccini, <"Deh dove son fuggiti>" ; Claudio Monteverdi, <"Baci soavi e cari>" ; Appendix ; Understanding Learned Compositions ; The Addition of Sharps and Flats ; Glossary ; References ; Index