The San Francisco call., 1904-02-19
INSTRUCTIVE JTUDHnC
By YlNOIEDAA4fEE1LNN.'1sAN
1ksASS)MFIN


tion OF the best modern songs, for the
voice has become more and more recog-
nized as a musical instrument and as
such is so intertwined with the ac-
compartments that il is impossible for
the singer to do justice to his part of
the song without a knowledge of the in
strumental score. Besides this knowl-
edge Of composition and the laws of
musical form will give the singer the
power to build up consistently and log
ically his climaxes. And it is along
this very line that many singers with
weIl-trained voices are deficient.
There is no better influence for a
singer than to hear performances of
classical dramas. where the language
may be heard in it's beauty and purity;
where the characters must be inter
preted and where he may obtain cor
rect ideas of Dhrasing in speech. Aside
from this, the emotional development
which comes from listening to plays is
OF lasting value to the singer. Take
the combination Of q really artistic vio-
linist, who knows how TO phrase well
and whose tone is rich, as a model
for vocal beauty, and the great art of
an actress like Nine. Bernhard, who
has perfect command of her language,
and from these two the singer may
derive an inspiration for artistic in
depreciation which few teachers are
capable Of giving.
An example of the potency of the lam
guage when reinforced by music is to
be found in Richard Strauss setting of
Tennyson's poem, "Enocn Arden" and
in many Of the same composers songs
the subtle use of the declamatory style
where the language is all-important, in
contrast with lyric phrases, where the
voice is given a show, is a study that
should interest all singers.
The singer of to-day aside from be-
ing equipped with voice musicianship
and a knowledge of the languages,
must have at his corcmand a wealth
of mental and emoticnal sympathies.
He must be able to portray all phases
of emotional life, from the most SOM
Der and tragic all through the gamut
TO the light. the fantastic and the hu-
morous. He must be able clearly to
produce the mood Of the composer and
poet. In this respect the singer of
songs has a niche all by himself. He
must be able without the use of stage
effects, scenery or other illusion, to
carry his audience with him through
all climes, seasons, moods and phases
Of artistic expression.
The time has gone by forever when
a singer by shouting a high c or sing
ing a sentimental ballad can lay claim
to being an artist. The interpreter of
to-day who can stand before a large
audience and reveal to them one by
one the exquisite beauties of the
'Dichterliebe" cycle of Schumann does
not represent merely a vocalist, but
an artist with a noble mission of re-
vealing the inner ideals of the human
heart, and thus elevating his hearers.
How much nobler the aim of such an
artist than to be merely idolized for
the gifts which nature has bestowed
upon him. The very fact that the aim
of the singer should be the recreating
and vitalizing of the wonderful works
Of song literature is the best reason
for the perfection of all his vocal re-
sources. In the act of Interpretation
~ '-ADAAh ~ AilAAcilA DEAGu ny I6SlIlt-
tons of a bad method, improper
breath control or ignorance of the laws
Of vocal production.
OF course it is not possible to Law
down laws and rules for all voices
and varieties of faults but there are
certain fundamental principles of
voice production that hold good at all
times. Among these the breath and
its control are undoubtedly the most
important. The throat, the reIaxa ton
Of all the muscles around il, including
the jaw and the tongue, and the con-
Quoting of tone to the proper reson-
ance cavities, are matters which are
universally necessary and recognized.
In thus separating these two portions
of the voice for analytical purposes.
we must realize that in the actual pro-
duction of tone they cannot be taken
apart. Each one depends on the other
and the study of the vocalist is to get
the perfected adjustment of each to
the other. This is a life study and a
never ending source of interest. work
and qualification.