The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-06-22
TO GIRLS WHO SING.
Emma Albani Gives Some Sound
Advice-Conscientious Study
and. Hard Work.

would be to warn her OF the very great
obstacles to be surrounded; to give her an
idea OF the courage and patieacs which
are necessary to success. and to ask her II
she was perfectly sure that she was des-
tined aud fitted for this career.
If her voice really warrants cultivation,
and If she has the necessary deterniua-
ton, l would then say, go ahead, and
Godspeed - 1 succeeded, and why should
not she succeed elsoi
At the same time it often seems to me
as If many pupils of vocal culture in our
days begin. aud are permitted 10 begin,
in the wrong way. They often begin too
late, and more than this, not enough
weight IL placed Upon what Iconsider the
absolute necessity of q thorough, all
round musical education. | was particu-
larly fortunate in this respect, and |
attribute a great deal Of my success as a
singer TO the fact that / was well trained
in an the other branches Of music.
When I was eight years old was o
ou1hly conversant with nearly all the
classical pianoforte music and could play
most of the Beethoven and Mozart
sonatas. When l left Albany and went
to Paris to study | was seventeen years
old, and although my whole idea was to
Study music, strangely enough / had no
idea of becoming a singer.
l studied in Paris the ~pianoforte and
organ playing, composition and also the
voice. Dear old Duprez, my master,
finally told me that / ought to give up all
the rest and devote myself solely to sing
ing, and this l determined to do.
AT that time Prince Poniatowski, the
well known Polish musician and com
poser, told me hat the French school was
not suited for nv voice, and insisted that
l should study in Italy. It was finally de-
cided that ] should go to Lamperti, the
celebrated Milanese master. With him l
remained nine months. This may at first
seem a short time. but it must be remem-
bered how much and how thoroughly |
had studied before.
II a student has the real genius Of song,
it will show itself very soon under proper
teaching. II she is destined to sing she
will sing; and although it is very far
from NV idea to recommend slovenii-
ness or Sinking, IL is also true that the
mere training OF the voice eau be over
done.
Assuming that the beginner has reached
the point where her public career is o
TO begin, the time comes when some real
ly valuable advice can be given. UP TO
that time her master will be her helper
and guide. She must. Of course. take
the greatest care of her health. for any
thing which is bad for the general health
of the body Is also bad for the voice, and
vice versa.
1t Is especially necessary that tn e
stomach and digestive org tns should b Q
this reason a singer should avoid all indi-
gestible food. Mats, cakes and candies
are especially bad for the voice, and q
STRENGTHENING, simple diet is the best TO
adopt.
A great deal of exercise and fresh air
are absolutely necessary. For an opera
singer who is probably getting plenty of
active exercise on tue stage, | consider
driving to be the best open air exercise;
and there is never a day, no matter what
the weather may be, that l do not drive
for an hour aud a half, making n special
point of this on singing days.
With regard to clothing. the chief thing
Of course, Is moi TO catch cold. Singers
should be careful not to muf1ie up their
Threats. for this only makes that precious
organ the more susceptible TO exposure.
Conversation is to be avoiued On singing
days. but otherwise 1t is an excellent ex-
ercise for the voice, and to be recon-
mended within moderate limits.
These simple precautions are not diff
cult to follow. They do not %inconven-
fence to any great extent, n they repay
tenfold.
The first appearance of a beginner will
always be a very trying occasion, but TO
her her art must be sacred, and she must
live up to it's highest canons. Not only
must she show what she has learned, but
also what she is herself. The voice Itself
comes from God, and the requirement Of
vocal technique Is a mere matter of rou-
tice. IL is in the singing itself, the phras-
ing and the defamation. that the artist
shows what is her very own-her artistic
personality.
Probably the young cantatrice may be
intoxicated by her first applause. 1t
is, indeed, the most grateful Of all trib-
utes TO the artist; but she u not
be induced by this to think that she
is perfect. Artists should never cease
to study; and they will find that, however
we'll they sing, it is always possible to
improve.
/ have been particularly fortunate in
the degree of success / have obtained dur
ing my career, but this has not debarred
me from constantly studying. Even now,
in my oldest operas. l often find that an
improvement may be made in the manner
of singing some of the passages and
phrases.
1t is a very necessary thing for a singer
to take a vacation every year. during
which time all singing is absolutely
given VI.
Although vacations are undoubtedly
uGCtoodEJs Oplu U LIt SbuItHL uiu lOI
the finished singer, still they should not
be too long, for in that case ground would
be lost which ii might be a laborious mat
ter to recover.
Before closing | wan most especially TO
speak of Wagner's music In its relation to
the singer. because / wish most positively
TO deny the theory thar it IS in Itself in
furious TO the voice. OF course moss OF his
beautiful music is very difficult TO sing.
The intervals are new and unusual, and
there are many very long and sustained
notes and cantabile passages which must
be u n carefully. But | maintain thai.
to a properly trained singer, and there is
the whole point of my argument, WaG-
neris music need have no terrors.
II a young and inexperienced artist at
tempts to sing these parts, 1t Is very
likely that the result Will be luxurious.
The school days are only Just over. aud
the voice has not yet learned bow best to
make use Of its freedom. IL is always
best to begin with simple tasks in any
art or profession; but in the case OF a
SINGER. VINE n a few years have brought
experience ana self reliance. she should
he able to sing anything without injury
to her voice, always provided that il is
properly trained in the first inst nee
Nine. Emma Atbdnt In Youths Com,
pdnton.
Carry Your Own Soap.
among travelling men," 5 lid a physic-
- 49, l...e - a.. GrA. -. - -