Choir and Chorus conducting; A treatise on the organization, management, training, and conducting of choirs and choral societies - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 Excerpt: ...as he leaves the syllable. I-oo--ew in Few; also u in tune. In this example the first vowel is very short, and the singer vocalizes upon the second. The vowels may be used singly, upon a monotone, and upon scales and arpeggios. They may also be used in combination upon the same musical material. A useful order for securing good tone production is the following: The pitch may be changed to suit the necessities of the various classes of voices. In practising vocal exercises, as in all singing, the body should be poised upon the ball of one foot; the shoulders down, chest active (not forced up). Singers should be warned against singing into their music. All the vowels should be practised. In order to avoid fatigue, vocal exercises may be practised by the men and women of a choir separately. One division should be encouraged to listen critically while another division is practising. Chapter VI. Singers learn to a considerable extent by imitation. That choir is fortunate whose director is able to give a model of good tone quality. In studying the vowel the item of quality of tone is to be always in mind. The tone of good quality is clear, resonant, expressive, with intensity or carrying power in both piano and forte. It is neither nasal, palatal, guttural, " woolly" nor breathy. Nasality, though sometimes the result of disease, is usually caused by habits of speech which induce rigidity of some part of the vocal apparatus. Calling attention to the defective sound and contrasting it with the correct sound of the vowel is helpful. So also instructions as to relaxing neck, tongue, and jaw while singing. The study of attack on the vowel "Ah," with thought concentrated upon the upper front teeth as the point at which tone is first felt and sustain...