The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-29
Declares English
Is Easy to Sing

The chief argument Of those who
are wont to discuss tho feasibility of
grand opera in English is that the
English language is not sipgable.
contend the latter is wholly untrue
1t is either an illusion. pure and SIM
pie, on the part Of those who have
| become accustomed 10 hear grand
opera In the original, or else the con.
tentlon OF the music snob. You may
not be aware, perhaps, that the music
snob exists if so, let mo introduce you
TO this species-a type to be met with
everywhere. Usually it is the "par
venu who encourages the noble art
because it is the fashion. He very
agrees with the thing in vogue. You
meet him coming ont after a premiere
Of some new opera and say TO him:
- Well, what do you think of tho new
opera; ism it lovely7' Immediately
he retorts with a flood Of adiectives:
=" Why. | think It's simply grand, gor-
geous. wonderful; indeed it was a great
treat: enjoyed it ever so much.'' He
proceeds little farther and meets an
other friend, who in turn SAYS 10 him:
- Well, well. don I you think this new
opera is horrid2' Instantly he grabs
him by the hand and replies 81
should say so; why, If was dreadful;
1 Was DoICu 10 uBdll all ul1UI,
Then there Is the scholarly music
snob, who nearly always disagrees with
you and is ever ready to engage you
in controversy in order TO show you
how much he knows (really, how little
he knows about grand opera / re-
member some years ago witnessing a
performance Of "Cavalleria usticana -
in English By the Carl Rosa Opera conf
pany at Manchester, England. Sure
enough, ono of these aonnoisseurs sat
IN the next seat 20 me. annoying every
body around him all night by his try
ing to eXto the beauty Of the Italian
language, boU' ridiculous it sounds in
English, and, Or, you don t know what
you miss! Finally / tnrned TO him and
asked: viii you kindly tell me. sir
what is the meaning Of Cavaleria Rus.
He turned red in the face. and stan,-
merci few inaudibl syIlables to the
effect that he would explain between
the acts. He soon afterward disap-
peared. and peace was thus restored.
Therefore it is obvious that the snob
cannot be considered real opponent
TO grand opera in English. hence we
viii only deal with the real musician
or music lover who claims that English !
is not Il singabc language. ] am con
WINGED that this idea is prevalent !
among them Though their number is !
constantly decreasing) through sheer
force of habit, Let me illustrate this |
point: | am French and have all my |
life listened to French opera in the
opera in Italian ii CRATES on my ear, |
WhyP Force Of habit. You observe
closely the next time YOU hear an opera /
in English that you have never heard |
before in the original. you Will find |
hat there is nothing out of place, pro-
vidiug the diction Of the singer is
lure.
The art of diction has hitherto been
oitifully neglected, and yet it is the
,iuging. You OTTER hear people say, 'Tt
}oes not matte TO me In what Ian
ruage an opera Is sung, rs ! never
understand word - This statement
: greatly exaggerated, for we have
Ill sat either at the opera or at a con
'ert listening attentively for few
minutes to singer, eager to find out
lately we think that we hear Italian,
1erman. English, when all at once two
IT three words we'll pronounced make
Is eyclaim with real 10Y and relief,
ooh, it is in Italian or 'I 1t is IN
french. - Then We listen with more
interest to follow the artist.
II few words are well articulated
mere is no reason WY dn OF lncu
ouId not be done equally wen.
OF course, nothing can be acquired
rithout work, without an effort. But
claim that a perfect pronunciation in
ither French or English requires only
few months Of intelligent work. and
faithful daily practicing of muscular
xercises. AS piapists have to practice
Gales for their fingers. ANY studen
f average intelligence can pronounce
xactly like a native, and native who
ings his own language perfectly is
OF common thing, either.
A beautiful organ is not the gift Of
very singer, but a perfect diction is
-ithin the reach Of everyone, and helps
0 make up for the lack Of beauty in
he voice. The charm is then in the
erfect enunciation which is, unfortu
ately, too rare.
It may he surprising to some that
no study OF dictiou in French, German
r italian will help YOU in your Eng.
sh enuuciation and will improve your
oeaking voice greatly. 1t is the sing
~ teachers duty to urge their pupils
, make special study of diction in
le languages from which they choose
,eir repertoire, and particularly in
nglish, Nine. Martin Albro,