Tradition and Gigli, 1600-1955 : a panegyric / by E. Herbert-Caesari.

Author/creator Herbert-Caesari, Edgar F.
Other author Gigli, Beniamino, 1890-1957.
Format Book
Edition[Second edition].
Publication InfoLondon : Robert Hale, ©1963.
Description160 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm
Subjects
Singing--History.

Contents Tradition: a brief historical survey -- Genesis and evolvement of the old Italian school -- The completely natural voice -- The natural singer -- Investigation: establishment of school -- Some famous composer-teachers and singers -- Intermezzo: the teacher, and what he taught -- Gigli and the tradition -- Epilogue -- Postscrit: points to ponder.
Abstract "In this important new book on singing technique, one of the few remaining survivors of the Old Italian School of Singing presents an invaluable short history of the creation, development and tradition of that school. As a preliminary he has sketched in a short survey of the vocal and musical activities obtaining just prior to and immediately after the year 1600. Thereafter he reveals the modus operandi of the first groups of musicians, who, by their individual and collective investigations, discovered and tabulated the seeming mysteries of vocal mechanics. He traces the work of each succeeding group and shows how, after some three generations of progressive emquiry and experiment, a complete School of vocal technique was evolved. They established a school of vocal procedure firmly based upon absolutely natural principles, which adhered stritly to acoustical and physiological laws. The model on which investigation was chiefly based was the completely natural voice--the meaning, significance, and functioning of which is fully explained. Gradually, branches of the central Roman Schola Cantorum were opened in the important Italian cities; but the very same principles and precepts were taught in all the branches. The author contrasts this system, whose last product was the wonderful voice of Gigli, with the present unhappy era, with its legion of erroneous 'methods' which are as voice-destroying as they are contradictory. By revealing the structure, development and principles of the one and only School, it is the author's hope to counteract the many fallacious theories and methods which now prevail."--Dust jacket.

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk MT823.H53 T7 1963 ✔ Available Place Hold