Customer Reviews

Bel Canto: A History of Vocal Pedagogy

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book covers the history of vocal pedagogy from its very beginings to detailed discussions on the thoeries of Manuel Garcia, Lamperti and so forth. It also gives you some glimpse on other techniques that were brought into being, backing them solidly with proofs to why the old italian school of voice production was and still is the most natural and favourite. It gives detailed description on the vocal technique itself with description of how the larynx works and so forth. (the title makes you think its only history but IT IS NOT! It is what one calls a professional down to earth book which talks about the practical but it is not an exercise workbook!) I never found a book so detailed in describing the many 'things' that are part of this technique so well put and easily understood. it also talkes about idiom and expression in the voice. Makes you love technique and not be bored just by reading about it, makes you appreciate this great gift our culture has handed upon us, to continue to nurture it in our own little ways. The Language is very well written - serious, steady and professional. Presentation is excellent. Points well made and clearly understood. This book has so many good virtues, that words just cannot measure what I mean to say. for me, it is THE definate voice bible I have been so long waiting for, both for my thesis and vocal studies! Then for further reading, I suggest J.T. Caldwell Expressive Singing Dalcroze Eurhythmics for voice. It sort of contiues where J.Stark leaves off as regards to discussing expressivity. With this later book Please be careful cause I was greatly dissapointed with the damaged one they sent me (without any reply when I complained) but nonetheless, a good book is a good book - sufferes a bit with presentation though.

I don't know what these other people got out of this book. I am a DM student in voice and have had to read over 37 books on pedagogy, including this one, and this one seems to be one of the weaker ones. Yes, the content is all factual, but it is poorly organized and it is hard to follow. There are so many other books out there that are a whole lot better. I was amazed that so many people lauded the book. I'm sorry I have to be a naysayer but I thought you all might like an other opinion.

My students at University and I used this text as one of the books for our Graduate Vocal Pedagogy Class. Having a desire to complement a more technical tome, (McCoy's "Your Voice: An Inside View") I chose this newer work by Stark for the 'historical overview' of the subject.

Today was our last class, and we all found that Stark's 'Bel Canto' has been a very good choice. His voluminous use of resources (Both primary source documents of singers, composers, vocal pedagogues speaking not only on vocal issues, but on composers, music, national styles, etc.) as well as Stark's 'historical overview' approach - starting and ending with Garcia, "the Master" -was an excellent tactic, in trying to put what we singers call 'The Golden Age' into both historical and aesthetic perspective.

I might not have purchased this book for my own personal library from the cover alone, nor might I have searched it out for post-doctoral study, had I not been 'assigned' the task of teaching Pedagogy by the rest of the Vocal area; (the 'new kid on the block' syndrome- you tenured faculty know what I am talking about!- lol) but I am very glad that I did teach this class. Coming after my Doctoral Orals, and achieving ABD status, I found this book to be a fitting summation of what the last twenty years has been about- that elusive 'search' for the 'secrets' of how to sing. Stark's own journey thus became MY journey, and, as a result of reading his book, it will now join it's place next to other books that have changed my view- for the better, (Reid's trilogoy, Ristad's Soprano on her Head, Hines' Great Singers on Great Singing, etc.) on matters of vocal pedagogy, music making, and what it means to be a Singer, entrusted with this most elusive and ephemeral of Arts. Thank you, James Stark. Your work is a gem.

I am in the process of a research project which completes the requirements for my Master's degree in music ed. I found this book to be the most comprehensive, complete, and unbiased review of the history and ideas of bel canto.

Those who would continue the tradition of beautiful singing owe it to themselves to include this book in their libraries. detailing the early days of Bel Canto and the findings of the first great masters, through the modern day and incorporation of science into the art and study of singing, this well-researched manual is chock-full of informative and enlightening historic facts. In spite of its 'all facts and no fluff' content, the book is an easy, pleasing, entertaining read.

This is the finest, most complete "true" history of music that I have ever read. If you have taken music history classes and this text was not included, your classes have led you into an instrumentally dominated world of delusion. If you want to know the truth behind the development of music outside the instrumental track, this book is a must. Learn the truth about the domination of singers from the dawn of the professional singer in the late 16th century to the dominance of the singer throughout history up to today. This is the type of knowledge that music historians in general do not want you to know!!