Vocalist.org archive


From:  "Jocelyn Gooch" <jocelyngooch@h...>
"Jocelyn Gooch" <jocelyngooch@h...>
Date:  Sat Dec 2, 2000  7:03 am
Subject:  Lloyd Hanson, vowel line



>
>Message: 13
> Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 10:39:21 -0700
> From: "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...>
> From: "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...>
>Subject: The Vowel Line
>
>Dear Linda and Vocalisters:
>
>Classical singing does tend to emphasize the vowel line. A common
>device to encourage students studying classical singing is to sing a
>phrase using only the vowels from the words in order to obtain the
>idea of the musical phrase being continuous, that is, continuous
>vowels. Consonants are then sometimes described as clothes pins on a
>clothes line; they are attached but they do not cut the line nor
>detach the elements between the clothes pins. All of this is a poor
>attempt to convey to the singer that the essence of what is being
>sung must be expressed through a continuous, connected series of
>vowels, at least as much as is possible.
>
>In this sense there is no difference between singing classical song
>and singing opera. Opera places much stronger dramatic demands on
>the voice because of the conditions such as singing with orchestra,
>playing a character in costume with sets, scenery, lighting and so
>on. But classic song is also dramatic in the sense that a character
>is often being played by the singer.
>
>The differences that I see between classical singing and pops
>singing, at least for the last 35-40 years is the presence of
>amplification and the electronic alteration of the voice that
>possible with this technology. I do not lament the introduction of
>this technology, in fact, I often find it very interesting. But I do
>object to the singing style that electronic technology encourages
>crossing over into the classical song style or opera. And it
>clearly has become more and more a part of some the singing that we
>hear from not a few presently well known singers.
>
>I believe it is possible to sing in both styles but my experience is
>that the singer must be very diligent about making the required
>differences in style. I might also add that because pops singing is
>so strongly personality oriented it is less of a error for a
>classically trained singer to bring classical elements into pops
>music than for a pops singer to bring pops elements into classical
>music because classical music is less personality oriented, or should
>be.
>
>Good discussion!
>
>--
>Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
>Professor of Voice, Pedagogy
>School of Performing Arts
>Northern Arizona University
>Flagstaff, AZ 86011
>
>
>_____________________________________________________________________
>Message: 15
> Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 11:35:32 -0700
> From: "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...>
> From: "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...>
>Subject: Re: The Ubiquitious AH Vowel
>
>Dear Linda and Vocalisters:
>
>Linda wrote:
> >I rather like the expression "clean" vowels: it seems to me to convey a
> >lot of what we're trying to find in the voice, and also to neaten up the
> >borders between consonants and vowels. Waht do you think?
>
>I like this term. For me it better defines what I consider and
>listen for in vowel pronunciation.
>
>--
>Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
>Professor of Voice, Pedagogy
>School of Performing Arts
>Northern Arizona University
>Flagstaff, AZ 86011
>
>
>Message: 21
> Date: Thu, 19 Oct 2000 14:22:03 -0700
> From: "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...>
> From: "Lloyd W. Hanson" <lloyd.hanson@n...>
>Subject: RE: The Vowel Line
>
>Dear Mike and Chiris and Vocalisters:
>
>I am not suggesting that classically trained singers should bring
>classical ideas into pops singing, only that to do so is less a
>violation of the pops form than if the reverse were done.
>
>Pops music, by definition, is intended to be completed by the
>performer. That is one of its great charms; each pops artist is
>granted extensive freedom to perform the music as they wish and
>nothing they do can be considered incorrect in light of the musical
>concept that began the process.
>
>But that does not mean that everyone will like any given performance.
>There is great discrepancy between the performances of a given song
>by two well respected and accepted pops-only performers but not
>everyone will appreciate each performers work on any given tune.
>
>However, one of the characteristics of classic song or opera is a
>reduction in the freedom that a performer may assume in performing
>the song within a classic or operatic style. This is so because the
>creative work of the composer is considered complete and is not left
>to be completed by the performer as is the case in pops music. (I
>know someone will bring up the example of cadenzas in arias and
>concertos but these are exceptions that are limited to particular
>short places in the music).
>
>If a pops performer sings a classic song or opera aria in a pops
>style, it is no longer a classic song nor an opera aria because a
>basic tenant of the style (the limited freedom allowed the performer
>because of the completeness of the composer's work) has been violated.
>
>It is not possible, given the opposite quality of pops music to so
>violate a pops song regardless of our own personal feelings about who
>does it best. An example of how this can be misunderstood is the
>case of an older person who loved the arrangements of Glenn Miller
>being offended by a rock version of "Sting of Pearls". The personal
>choice is acknowledged but no violation has been done to the piece if
>it is presented in new clothes. And it is still pops music, rock or
>swing rendition.
>
>But if "Nessun Dorma" is belted by pops singer it is no longer an
>opera aria. It is now a pops song.
>
>Just differences in concept carried out to a logical conclusion.
>
>
> >Mike wrote:
> >
> >I think you'll find that people who listen mostly to pop music would
> >not want to hear anything operatic in the singing of pop music.
>--
>Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
>Professor of Voice, Pedagogy
>School of Performing Arts
>Northern Arizona University
>Flagstaff, AZ 86011
>
>
________________________________________________________________________________\
_____



cantare@p...
  Replies Name/Email Yahoo! ID Date Size
7233 Lloyd Hanson, vowel line Jocelyn Gooch   Sat  12/2/2000   2 KB
7246 Re: Lloyd Hanson, vowel line cantare@p...   Sat  12/2/2000   2 KB

emusic.com