Hello Vocalisters ~
I too have been quietly lurking and soaking up the information being discussed,
and like Nick am currently living in the UK (I'll bet he's a native, while I'm
"An Admiring American from Arizona Singing in the Spectacularly Scenic
Splendid-ness of Scotland..."), but unlike Nick - I love musical theatre ;-)
<grins!>
In college I started out as a vocal performance major - theory practically
destroyed any sanity I had - so graduated with a degree in Public Relations
with a music minor. Went to Univ of Arizona in Tucson a few years later to
obtain a second bachelors degree in music education - but for a variety of
political and voice professor reasons, did not complete it.... anyhoooooo ---
My question will reveal my complete lack of knowledge on this - but here goes:
Regarding different kinds of Sopranos - I know the voices - Soprano,
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto but am confused with "Dramatic" "Lyric" "Coloratura"
and words that describe the voice type that way.
When I was a freshman music major (too young to know what was going on... wish
I'd waited a year before going and maybe would have stuck with it....), I was
too afraid to ask - my fellow freshman class music majors were much more
advanced and knowledgeable musically in just about everything - and as I've
aged (34 now) I've not occupied myself with classical singing (am just starting
to come back a little), so wasn't in a place to be interested. I only thought
these adjectives described sopranos and not mezzos or contraltos... but from
current postings, I'm incorrect. I also wasn't aware you could combine lyric
coloratura, or dramatic lyric (ahhhh I'm so confused).
Would someone please recommend a site to learn more,
or describe the types - and I ask please be gentle as my knowledge
of current singers is very very limited to:
Cecilia Bartoli, Lesley Garrett, Zizi Possi,
Kiri Te Kanawa, Joan Sutherland
and a few very-well known others that I was exposed to as a vocal perf major
newbie....
I can kinda guess by the names what some of the definitions might be - but
would really appreciate definitions from more experienced musicians -
I'm planning to get back into more serious vocal production,
and am considering "third time is the charm" in going back
to obtain a music education degree from Strathclyde University in
Glasgow (if they'll have me)... In the meantime, thank you for all
the wonderful information, exercises, insights, opinions and
most of the all - the shared love of making music that comes through
just about every post.
Thank you in advance,
in harmony,
Carrie (in Scotland)
ps - in case anyone is dying to know - I have always been told I'm a Mezzo.
(plain and simple?! hee hee)
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you've imagined. -Henry David Thoreau
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