Introduction to the Art of Singing by Johann Friedrich Agricola (Cambridge Musical Texts and Monographs) [Hardcover]

Johann Friedrich Agricola (Author), Julianne C. Baird (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Cambridge Musical Texts and Monographs | Publication Date: May 26, 1995

Agricola published Introduction to the Art of Singing in Germany in 1757, consisting of the 1723 treatise of the Italian singing teacher and castrato, Tosi, to which Agricola added his own running commentary. The Introduction was recognized as invaluable not only for teachers and their pupils but also for advanced singers and professionals. This present edition, translated with introduction and annotations by the celebrated singer Julianne Baird, makes Agricola's work available for the first time in English. Tosi's work was the first basic treatise on singing; Agricola, a pupil of J.S. Bach at the court of Frederick the Great, brought Tosi's work "up-to-date." His commentaries are so extensive that the Introduction stands on its own as an important document in the history of performance practice.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Julianne C. Baird has performed an important service in making available an edited translation of his principal publication.' Times Literary Supplement

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German, Italian

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 312 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (May 26, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052145428X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521454285
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,186,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Far more than a translation, August 9, 2000

By 

Randolph Lacy (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to the Art of Singing by Johann Friedrich Agricola (Cambridge Musical Texts and Monographs) (Hardcover)

Julianne Baird's "Introduction to the Art of Singing" (1995) is far more than it appears. It is, of course, an English translation of Agricola's German text (1757), which in turn was a translation of the original Italian text by Tosi (1723) -- a monumental and often amusing work in itself. Agricola made his own observations regarding Tosi's work, and Julianne Baird has truly created an entirely new book by virtue of the observations she makes in her footnotes, which are very extensive. Baird is not only a scholar, but also an accomplished performer and so takes a very thorough approach to this treatise. She and Cambridge University Press are careful to delineate what parts of the text are Tosi, Agricola and Baird. It is an invaluable reference work for the serious student of historical vocal practice.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Primary source - authentic, reliable testimony, September 6, 2007

By 

E. Seligmann (Aurora, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to the Art of Singing by Johann Friedrich Agricola (Cambridge Musical Texts and Monographs) (Hardcover)

Not one, but two prominent musicians of the Baroque era discussing the finer points of vocal performance practice of that period, plus valuable clarifications and cross-references provided by a modern scholar (Baird). So many aspects of Baroque vocal performance practice were never written down by the composers - it was expected that the performers would improvise ornamentation in the style of the day. Consequently, rare sources like this one provide the modern scholar with some of the only available primary source material on the subject. Well-organized and surprisingly easy to read.