Phonetic Readings of Songs and Arias [Paperback]

Berton Coffin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994

Since 1964, the first edition has served singers, teachers of singing, and students of lyric diction as a guide to the correct pronunciation of songs in foreign languages. Lyrics and phonetic transcriptions are presented together so that a song may be correctly articulated from the first reading. The 413 songs included have been carefully selected from Coffin's The Singer's Repertoire (1960) and are representative of the most frequently performed vocal repertoire, with songs and arias for all voice classifications. This second edition contains revised German transcriptions with diphthongs altered to be of better acoustical and vocal value in singing. Correlated with Coffin's Overtones of Bel Canto (1980).

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The late Berton Coffin's teachings and writings established him as an international authority on vocal pedagogy. Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, Boulder, he also lived and taught in Europe from 1976 to 1983--in his private studio in Vienna; during summers with the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria; and in twenty-one opera houses in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. He presented master classes in the United States and in Europe and served as a visiting professor of voice at U.S. universities. Dr. Coffin, baritone, held academic and professional music degrees from Columbia University, Eastman School of Music, Chicago Musical College, and Earlham College.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press; 2nd Edition edition (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810815338
• ISBN-13: 978-0810815339
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 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: #366,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Tool for Classical Singers, August 31, 2000

By 

Dennis Parnell (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phonetic Readings of Songs and Arias (Paperback)

The information contained in Phoenetic Readings of Songs and Arias is an absolutely necessary tool for every student of classical vocal repertoire. Not only do the authors understand what the novice singer needs, in terms of word order and pronounciation, but the information is also a very handy reference for the advanced singer and teacher. The best thing about this volume is that translations of the original word order of the original language is given, so that the student can see "how the language works" in its own word order. A great book!.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for any serious singer, May 12, 2007

By 

Rebecca Ballinger (Lubbock, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Phonetic Readings of Songs and Arias (Paperback)

This will save you A LOT of money!! Buy this instead of using IPA source every time! There are very few markings that I disagree with and has a wide range of Italian, French and German songs. It has the least amount of songs in the French language, but the Italian and German sections are phenominal. Any serious singer should own it.