English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach / Edition 2

English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach / Edition 2

by Amanda Johnston
ISBN-10:
1442260890
ISBN-13:
9781442260894
Pub. Date:
07/25/2016
Publisher:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
ISBN-10:
1442260890
ISBN-13:
9781442260894
Pub. Date:
07/25/2016
Publisher:
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach / Edition 2

English and German Diction for Singers: A Comparative Approach / Edition 2

by Amanda Johnston

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Overview

Lyric diction is a portal to powerful and meaningful vocal performance because diction enables singers to communicate the vision of both the poet and the composer. The study of diction involves learning to perceive speech patterns in different languages, practicing their precise articulation, recognizing this in speech and singing, and developing an awareness of the refined movements of the articulators and their effects on singing tone.

In the second edition of English and German Diction for Singers, Amanda Johnston continues her comparative, modernized approach to lyric diction. This comprehensive resource offers a thorough analysis of the German and English languages and includes extensive oral drills, word lists, tables, charts, musical examples, and even tongue twisters. Unique to this publication is the illustration of the rhythmic timing and release of consonants within the International Phonetic Alphabet transcriptions in all musical examples.

This book is designed for both undergraduate and graduate courses in German and English lyric diction and is an invaluable resource for classical singers, vocal coaches, and voice teachers alike.
Improvements to the second edition include:
  • An online workbook that includes extensive written exercises suitable for classroom or independent use
  • Chapter-by-chapter video clips that demonstrate the concepts addressed in the text
  • Expanded chapters address the schwa, the treatment of monosyllabic incidental words, the use of R, and the correct formation of the elusive upsilon and extended epsilon
  • Consideration of loan words and stressed vs. unstressed closed German vowels
  • Integrated practice drills for mastering challenging and unfamiliar phonemes
  • Enlarged musical examples show the rhythmic timing and release of voiced and voiceless consonants
  • An expanded appendix on suggested repertoire for diction study
  • Inclusion of specific diction choices suitable for musical theatre repertoire
  • Expanded discussion of healthy glottal onsets, including the concept of juncture
  • Use of the latest resources, namely Deutsche Rechtschreibung (2014) and Cambridge Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th edition (2011)
  • For all users, there is a WORKBOOK. Access the workbook here.
  • The ANSWER KEY is available for instructors. Contact textbooks@rowman.com for details.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781442260894
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 07/25/2016
Edition description: Second Edition
Pages: 360
Sales rank: 545,892
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Amanda Johnston is a collaborative pianist and vocal coach. She is associate professor of music at the University of Mississippi, Oxford. She is also on faculty at Musiktheater Bavaria. For further information, visit her website: www.amandajohnston.ca.

Table of Contents

Musical Examples xiii

Foreword xv

Preface xix

Part I Introduction 1

Chapter 1 Elementary Concepts 3

1.1 Phonetics and the International Phonetic Alphabet 3

1.2 Vowel classification 4

1.3 Consonant classification 5

1.4 Organs of speech 7

1.5 Points of articulation 8

Chapter 2 Proficiency in English IPA 9

2.1 Vowels 9

2.2 Diphthongs 13

2.3 Triphthongs 16

2.4 Consonants 16

Chapter 3 Proficiency in German IPA 25

3.1 Vowels 25

3.2 Diphthongs 29

3.3 Consonants 30

Part II English 37

Chapter 4 Introduction to English Diction for Singers 39

4.1 Challenges of singing in English 39

4.2 Dialect and accent: General American English (GA) and Received Pronunciation (RP) 41

4.3 Challenges of singing musical theatre repertoire 43

Chapter 5 English Phonemes 45

Chapter 6 The Structure of English 53

6.1 Syllabification: sung vs. spoken 53

6.2 Word stress and "unstress" 55

6.3 Glottal attacks or onsets 58

6.4 Silent letters 61

6.5 Homophones 62

6.6 Contractions 64

Chapter 7 Characteristic English Phonemes 65

7.1 Use of [a] and [æ], but absence of [a] 65

7.2 Importance of the schwa [&rmcgreve;] 65

7.3 Use of Y 67

7.4 Allophones of R: [&rmcgrevj;][&rmcgrevr;][r] 68

Chapter 8 Vowels 73

8.1 Monophthongs 73

8.2 Diphthongs 87

8.3 Triphthongs 93

Chapter 9 Glides and Approximates 95

9.1 Use of [w] and [&rmcgrevw;] 95

9.2 Use of [j] 97

9.3 Use of retroflex R: [&rmcgrevr;] 99

Chapter 10 Consonants 103

10.1 Efficiency in production 103

10.2 Voiced vs. voiceless 104

10.3 Double consonants 108

10.4 Individual consonants 108

10.5 Consonant blends 125

Chapter 21 Advanced Concepts in Diction 127

11.1 Treatment of monosyllabic incidental words 127

11.2 Strong and weak forms of incidental words 129

11.3 Implosion/explosion 131

11.4 Unstressed syllables: use of [i] in prefixes 134

11.5 Grammatical ending: -ed 135

Chapter 12 Common Pitfalls 137

12.1 Improper word stress 137

12.2 Influence of spoken regionalisms 138

12.3 Influence of mother tongue 139

12.4 Common mispronunciations 140

12.5 Influence of speech habits 141

Part III German 145

Chapter 13 Introduction to German Diction for Singers 147

13.1 Hochdeutsch and Bühnendeutsch 147

13.2 Reference books 148

13.3 Neue Rechtschreibung 148

13.4 Orthographic features: Umlaut and Eszett (ß;) 149

Chapter 14 German Phonemes 151

Chapter 15 The Structure of German 155

15.1 Root system and word structure 155

15.2 Grammatical and inflectional endings 157

15.3 Prefixes and suffixes 159

15.4 Compound words 166

15.5 Word origin and loan words 168

15.6 Glottal attacks or onsets 169

Chapter 16 Characteristic German Phonemes 171

16.1 The ich-laut [ç], ach-laut [Χ], and Curly-tail J [j] 171

16.2 Use of R: [&rmcgrevj;] vs. [&rmcgreva;] 177

16.3 The German schwa: vocalic chameleon 182

Chapter 17 Vowels 185

17.1 Vowel length 185

17.2 Monophthongs 186

17.3 Diphthongs 203

17.4 Vowels in loan words 207

17.5 Common exceptions 210

Chapter 18 Consonants 213

18.1 Voiced vs. voiceless 213

18.2 Double consonants 215

18.3 Individual consonants 216

18.4 Consonant blends 228

18.5 Contractions 231

Chapter 19 Advanced Concepts in Diction 233

19.1 Lyric and phrasal doubling of consonants 233

19.2 Phrasal consonant clusters 235

19.3 Treatment of monosyllabic incidental words 236

19.4 Strong and weak forms of incidental words 237

19.5 Implosion/explosion 238

Chapter 20 Common Pitfalls 243

20.1 Improper use of R 243

20.2 Shadow vowels 243

20.3 Use of diphthongs instead of monophthongs 244

20.4 Mispronunciation of schwa 245

20.5 False use of glottal onsets 245

20.6 Mispronunciation of contractions 246

20.7 Influence of speech habits 247

Part IV English and German-Common Ground 251

Chapter 21 Commonalities between English and German 253

21.1 Common vowels and consonants 253

21.2 Vowel changes in polysyllabic words 254

21.3 Treatment of monosyllabic, incidental words 255

21.4 Concise comparison of the schwa 256

21.5 Voiced and voiceless consonants: rhythmic timing 257

21.6 Common consonant blends 260

Chapter 22 Legato Singing 263

22.1 Glottal attacks: friend or foe? 263

22.2 Rhythmic release and timing of consonants 265

22.3 Phrasal elision 268

22.4 Final thoughts on R 269

Chapter 23 Close but No Cigar 271

23.1 Close but no cigar: keys to idiomatic pronunciation 271

Chapter 24 Lyric Diction in Opera 277

24.1 Use of rolled [r] and flipped [&rmcgrevj;] 277

24.2 Shadow vowels 279

24.3 Alternative to [h] 279

24.4 Cognate substitution or omission 280

Chapter 25 Concise History of the English Language 283

25.1 Old English (First Anglo-Saxon settlements in England to ca. 1100) 285

25.2 Middle English (ca. 1100-1500) 286

25.3 Modern English (New English) (ca. 1500 to present day) 286

25.4 Developments in Modern English (seventeenth century to present day) 288

Appendix A Glossary of Phonetic and Anatomical Terms 291

Appendix B Supplements 297

Appendix C Suggested Repertoire for Lyric Diction Study 309

Notes 321

Bibliography 323

Flashcard (removable reference for English and German IPA) 327

Index 329

About the Author 335

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