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We Sang Better James Anderson

We Sang Better By James Anderson

We Sang Better by James Anderson


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Condition - Very Good
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Summary

In the 2-volume We Sang Better James Anderson unravels the uniform advice from 200 of the best singers in the period 1800-1960, quoting some 70,000 of their own words. This area has often been dominated by voice scientists with muscular 'agendas' or teachers with set 'methods'. The singers themselves were very suspicious of both these trends!

We Sang Better Summary

We Sang Better: Vol.2 Why it Was Better: 2: Further Evidence & Reasoning from Singers 1800-1960 by James Anderson

WE SANG BETTER consists of two volumes of very clear advice about singing from great singers of the past. Volume 2 (ISBN 978-84-940477-9-4) is entitled 'Why it was better' and contains further evidence and reasoning from singers 1800 to 1960. This volume is 260 pages long, and contains 20 illustrations. 'One very important thing right from the start,' said Puccini's star soprano Maria Jeritza, '- not to scream and not to force.' As Volume 1 made clear, the best singers of this period approached their art and their training gently. They built slowly upon the individual voice granted by nature. Volume 2 gives further proof that many of these singers knew exactly what they were doing and why. They were highly aware that singing can go wrong. But they said if you wanted superlative singing you had to keep approaching it their way. You would never master supreme singing: if you put your trust in scientific 'discoveries' or 'fixes; if you rushed your training or forced; or if you tried to copy some academic 'style'. The original Italian model for singers was uncomplicated: the aim was to be natural, spontaneous and simple. And, as Puccini added, 'We Italians love beauty of sound.' This volume takes evidence from the singers on dozens of topics such as: pressure, exercises, 'forward', dans le masque, covering, 'from the chest', voix sombree, portamento, attack, vowel modifications, support, golden ages, keeping up with instrumentalists, listening to others, performances of early music, etc - and also on the question of whether singing is a science, an art, or even something more - something spiritual. For your information, the first volume (ISBN 978-84-940477-8-7) is entitled 'How we sang' and contains 250 tips on how to sing from singers 1800 to 1960; the first volume is 490 pages long, and contains 130 illustrations.

We Sang Better Reviews

Anderson's trawl through the annals of singing has been generous and wide-ranging ... Books on singing are prone to obtuseness and pedantry [but] Anderson's two-volume survey ... brings the subject to life ... the books are full of little bursts of insight and big-hearted moments of inspiration. (OPERA NOW)

About James Anderson

James Anderson is a musician who has worked for the Arts Council of Great Britain and has run major European Festivals. Regretting the scarcity of supreme singing today, he has spent the last 30 years researching and collating this advice. He now helps young singers through the Singers Legacy website.

Table of Contents

THE CONTENTS OF VOLUME 2 Part II Issues Effort Pressure Force From the chest Throat and larynx Chest voice Head and headiness Forward Breathing Support Dans le masque Legato and diction Breath control Covering and closed Attack A science of voice-production? Ideals Vowel modifications Registers Playing around with registers Voix sombree Those tenor high notes Exercises Criticism Spontaneity Natural tones and carrying power Portamento Varying the volume Vibrancy Expansiveness and expression Complicated or simple? Part III Cycles Cycles Golden ages come and go Why do golden ages not last? Instrumentalists Singers can be more like instrumentalists Success in any art-form needs a basic grounding Where are we now? Part IV So are there lessons from the past we can apply now? Concentrate on ability first, then you can tackle any style Use the past for your benefit Singing is finally up to you, not anyone else The twelve differences Some recent and good advice Stick to the ideals and ignore the closed minds! Pure and beautiful sounds: bells, for instance Example of Patti 'Expansive sensibility' The present early music situation Example of Battistini Pure singing on its own A science? An art Even something more Part V Some fun things Singers in court Two raconteurs tell of their singing lessons Body parts Waiting in the Green Room Rossini sings for Addenbrooke's Hospital You don't need to copy these pictures The price of the claque at the Grand Opera A singer rehearses an orchestra Heroism in performance The trill (Vol.2 also contains) The reference, bibliography and illustration lists of Volume 1 The reference, bibliography and illustration lists of Volume 2 The main cast list A subsidiary list of characters & also of places A final note

Additional information

GOR008372988
9788494047794
8494047795
We Sang Better: Vol.2 Why it Was Better: 2: Further Evidence & Reasoning from Singers 1800-1960 by James Anderson
Used - Very Good
Paperback
Beuthen AMR S.L.
2012-11-01
266
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - We Sang Better