Scarecrow Press
Pages: 264
Trim: 8⅜ x 11
978-0-8108-5711-7 • Paperback • December 2006 • $102.00 • (£78.00)
978-1-4616-7118-3 • eBook • December 2006 • $96.50 • (£74.00)
Dan H. Marek is a distinguished international singer, teacher, and writer who has appeared as a principal tenor at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, and the Salzburg Opera. He is a teacher of voice at Mannes College of Music in New York City.
Part 1 List of Exercises
Part 2 List of Musical Examples
Part 3 List of Illustrations
Part 4 Acknowledgments
Part 5 Practical Advice
Part 6 Introduction
Part 7 PART I: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE ART OF SINGING
Chapter 8 1 The Art of Singing in the Ancient World
Chapter 9 2 The Age of Bel Canto
Chapter 10 3 The Age of Grand Opera
Chapter 11 4 Wagner, Verdi, Virgins, and Verismo
Chapter 12 5 Modern Times
Chapter 13 6 The Age of the Machine
Part 14 PART II: VOCAL TECHNIQUE
Chapter 15 7 Appoggio: The Historical Bel Canto Method of Breathing
Chapter 16 8 The Primary Vibration
Chapter 17 9 The Mechanical Registers
Chapter 18 10 The Acoustical Registers
Chapter 19 11 Applications
Part 20 Glossary
Part 21 Bibliography
Part 22 Name Index
Part 23 Subject Index
Part 24 About the Author
The first part of this textbook for vocal students is devoted to tracing the historical background of the art of singing from ancient times to the present. Subsequent chapters teach practical vocal techniques, beginning with the Bel Canto method of breathing. Marek (voice, Mannes College of Music) has also provided approximately 60 vocal exercises for developing vocal virtuosity. The volume is illustrated with b&w anatomical drawings and photographs of opera stars....
— Reference and Research Book News, May 2007
Singing: The First Art is both a history and a manual....Pedagogues who have not read Coffin's texts will find this an accurate and accessible overview; teachers who are familiar with the work will find it a balanced and practical interpretation of the method.
— Journal of Singing , November 2008
provides useful references....well written and well supported by illustrations and musical examples....[Marek] has done singers, and those who are interested in singing, a great service by drawing together some of the major sources of literature on vocal history and vocal technique.
— Music Education Research
The first part of this textbook for vocal students is devoted to tracing the historical background of the art of singing from ancient times to the present. Subsequent chapters teach practical vocal techniques, beginning with the Bel Canto method of breathing. Marek (voice, Mannes College of Music) has also provided approximately 60 vocal exercises for developing vocal virtuosity. The volume is illustrated with b&w anatomical drawings and photographs of opera stars.
— Reference and Research Book News, May 2007
Include
· 55 Historical Photos and Illustrations
· 64 Vocal Exercises designed to develop vocal virtuosity
· More than 80 Musical Examples
· Otabound™ Binding, a special binding style that enhances theease-of-use by allowing the book to lay flat while in use
· A Glossary, Bibliography, and Name & Subject Indexes