The musician's breath
Subtitle: the role of breathing in human expression
By: James Jordan ; with Mark Moliterno [and] Nova Thomas
Contributors: Moliterno, Mark; Thomas, Nova
Publisher: GIA Publications
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Chicago
Language: eng
Number of pages: 209
ISBN-13: 9781579998349
Subjects: Prānāyāma; Health and hygiene; Respiration; Breath control; Breathing exercises; Musicians; Music; Psychological aspects; Performance; Singing; Physiological aspects
Description: "In this book, James Jordan examines why and how the breath is the "delivery system" for human and musical ideas in performance. "The breath," Dr. Jordan writes, " is the most magical and human thing we can engage as artists." The Musician's breath is divided into two sections: The first discusses the "why" of breathing, while the second provides the "how" with practical applications for singers, instrumentalists, and conductors"--Dust jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [201]-206).
Table of contents: title: pt. I. The power of the breath. To hear the inaudible; title: The ignorance of breath; title: The clairvoyant breath : the moment of choice ; The moment of silence; title: Intention and revelation ; Musical will or musical intention?; title: Breathing into the vulnerable opening that is the soul ; The audiational breath; title: Understanding the mechanics of breathing through somatics : how does breath come into the body?; title: Breath defines our interiority ; The want to breathe. Th birth of internal spaciousness: childhood; title: The idea informs the body ; The power within the rest ; Rests as respites: the clairvoyant opportunity ; Breathing into the idea: the musician's deepest challenge; title: The audiational breath ; What is audiation and what is its power?; title: Breath as initiator ; Action-reaction ; Gaining and understanding of breath entrainment ; Entraining musical ideas; title: Where is "in the moment"? ; Past, present, and future ; Mimetic envy that handicaps the breath; title: Toward a deeper artistry : breath is unto itself; title: pt. II. Interpretations and applications. The conductor's intimate connection to breath ; 1. Acceleration/deceleration: a mirror of breath energy and flow ; 2. The breath impulse gesture ; 3. Empathetic constant exhalation. Breathing the score: marking the score for rehearsal and performance ; The breath preparation ; 4. The troughed beat; title: Breath, the mind-body connector : a classical yoga perspective on the creative process / Mark Moliterno. Breath and prana ; Blockages to the breath ; Pranayama (breath/vital-force control) ; Breath and body movement ; Bibliography; title: The performer's breath / Nova Thomas. The psycho-physical connection ; The breath connection: new language for function ; Inhalation, inspiration...Exhalation, expression ; The "s-word" ; In summary ; Bibliography; title: Qigong practice : balancing energy and gaining awareness of breath. A Qigong primer for musicians: cultivating qi ; Energy flow and breath in Qigong ; The pattern of energy flow in Qigong ; The basic Qigong exercise sequence : the rwenty-six repetitions; title: A final admonition : breathe into the idea ; Understanding the power of breath ; The breath is a submissive act ; The "trinity" dilemma of the artist.