The Project Gutenberg EBook of Style in Singing, by W. E. Haslam

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Title: Style in Singing

Author: W. E. Haslam

Release Date: May 9, 2007 [EBook #21400]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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_TO MY PUPILS_

STYLE IN SINGING

BY

W.E. HASLAM

NEW YORK: G. SCHIRMER
1911

Copyright, 1911
By G. SCHIRMER

22670

PREFATORY NOTE

"Of making many books there is no end." Surely, the weary observation
of the sage must have an especial application to the literature of
Song.

One could not number the books--anatomical, physiological,
philosophical--on the Voice. A spacious library could easily be
furnished with "Methods" of Singing.

Works treating of the laws governing the effective interpretation of
instrumental music exist. Some of them, by acknowledged and competent
authorities, have thrown valuable light on a most important element of
musical art. Had I not believed that a similar need existed in
connection with singing, this addition to vocal literature would not
have been written.

In a succeeding volume on "Lyric Declamation: Recitative, Song and
Ballad Singing," will be discussed the practical application of these
basic principles of Style to the vocal music of the German, French,
Italian and other national schools.

W.E. HASLAM.

2, rue Maleville,
Parc Monceau, Paris,
July, 1911.

INTRODUCTION

In listening to a Patti, a Kubelik, a Paderewski, the reflective
hearer is struck by the absolute sureness with which such artists
arouse certain sensations in their auditors. Moreover, subsequent
hearings will reveal the fact that this sensation is aroused always in
the same place, and in the same manner. The beauty of the voice may be
temporarily affected in the case of a singer, or an instrument of less
aesthetic tone-quality be used by the instrumentalist, but the result
is always the same.

What is the reason of this? Why do great artists always make the same
effect and produce the same impre