Singers, teachers, coaches, and conductors will appreciate French Lyric Diction: A Singer's Guide for its thorough account of the language as it is sung in opera and melodie. Often-overlooked topics are explored, including phrasal and emphatic stress, vocalic length, singing the French r, and traditions in the setting of French poetry. Considerable attention is paid to the subject of liaison, with recommendations on how to make decisions about optional liaisons in singing. A comprehensive guide to orthography provides instruction on the pronunciation of all French spellings, including many optional secondary pronunciations, and accepted francise pronunciation for loanwords. Pronunciation dictionaries give transcriptions for over 10,000 names of composers, poets, artists, roles, performers, characters, and places, as well as everyday musical terms.

About the Author
Jason Nedecky is an instructor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, and diction coach for its opera division. At the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, he teaches French lyric diction and repertoire courses. Nedecky has appeared as baritone soloist in North America and Europe and is a member of the Canadian Opera Company chorus. He has also covered and performed numerous supporting roles for the company and has acted as its French diction coach.

Reviews
Singing well in the French language customarily creates more concerns and problems than any other language encountered in a professional singer's life. There is no greater compliment to a French National than that we show our love and appreciation of this vast fund of music and our willingness to devote the time and understanding that Jason Nedecky shows for his subject. Highly recommended. * Sir Thomas Allen CBE *
Professor Jason Nedecky's French Lyric Diction is not just another book about French diction; it is essential for English-speaking singers and vocal teachers to comprehend the subtleties of 'elevated' French language, details of style and phrasing. Including a list of proper nouns with their pronunciation, and many useful examples taken from French operas and melodies, it presents with astonishing clarity and ease how singing French well is a great way to open wide the door on refined French culture and art. A must! * Francois Le Roux, baritone, voice teacher at the Paris Ecole normale de musique, recognized leading reference for French vocal repertoire *
French Lyric Diction: A Singer's Guide is highly recommended. * Debra Greschner, Journal of Singing *
This volume is a monumental contribution to the discipline. The author offers detailed, yet clear explanations of every aspect of French lyric diction, from syllabification to vocalic harmonization...Singers who fear French will find this volume an invaluable resource in allaying their trepidations, and those who have already fallen in love with the language and the literature will welcome the comprehensive, yet nuanced guidance provided by Nedecky. * Debra Greschner, NATS Journal of Singing *



Book Information
ISBN 9780197573846
Author Jason Nedecky
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 590g
Dimensions(mm) 180mm * 254mm * 20mm