Standard Vocal Literature - An Introduction to Repertoire: Mezzo-Soprano (Vocal Library) (Paperback)

~ Richard Walters (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This series of 5 book/CD packs is an introduction to art song in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Each volume has a different song list, and includes 30 selections in appropriate keys. Beyond art song, each collection includes two carefully chosen opera arias, an oratorio aria, and an operetta aria by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634078747
• ISBN-13: 978-0634078743
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #741,396 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for all aspiring sopranos, May 31, 2007

By	Priscilla A. Arnold "Music Is Life..." (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Standard Vocal Literature - An Introduction to Repertoire: Soprano (Vocal Library) (Paperback)

You will find a healthy year's worth of instruction in this book. A great blend of styles and languages.

One of my favorite points is that this book comes with two CDs. The CDs include pronounciation aids for everything not in English, and piano accompaniament for all of the songs. I would, of course, have recommended that the money and effort be put out to hire a tallented soprano to demonstrate all of the pieces, but that's a minor gripe.

The selection of songs was artfully chosen, with a wide range of challenging and beautiful pieces included. Although not one of my favorites, "I Attempt From Love's Sickness" is a great repertoire song, and is a great tool to develop flexibility and fluidity of movement in the voice. In contrast, Love's Philosophy is a huge "little" song, barely a minute in duration depending on how it's performed, but climaxing to a huge, full-voiced peak at the end. It's a perfect encore piece, and a great addition to any recital.

In the French songs, the selection is limited to the typical French-style art songs. Since there is less variety in the really good French songs available, the editor has chosen some of the more beautiful and standard pieces. Si mes vers avaient des ailes is a beautiful, light love song, where Plaisir carries a bit heavier feel to the melody.

Both of the Schubert pieces are outstanding German repertoire pieces, and Du bist die Ruh is one of the more challenging pieces in the book if performed correctly.

In the theme of lyrical-type music, the editor includes Del cabello mas sutil as a Spanish piece, O mio babbino caro for Italian opera, and Pie Jesu for Latin oratorio. All three of these pieces showcase nearly any developing soprano voice, and provide a reasonable challenge to any young or begining singer.

As a fun change, The Sun, Whose Rays Are All Ablaze, provides a change to the rest of the pieces, boardering on an introduction to coloratura styling. It moves much more quickly and demands a lightness in the voice that is not required for "Babbino", "Cabello" or "Love's Philosophy".

I have selected a few of the most widely known and sung pieces to highlight, but the teacher and student alike would be encouraged to explore each of the pieces in this collection, as each provides a wealth of learning and development opportunities.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Standard Vocal Lit, August 9, 2006

By	Gretchen M. Stalnecker "G. Stalnecker" (Maplewood, NJ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Standard Vocal Literature - An Introduction to Repertoire: Soprano (Vocal Library) (Paperback)

This book is a great resource for a student, singer or a voice teacher looking to start their students on some basic repertoire. One of my students has this book and I ordered it because I liked what song selections were inside.

3.0 out of 5 stars good collection - but some problems, March 21, 2009

By	systems student (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standard Vocal Literature - An Introduction to Repertoire: Baritone (Vocal Library) (Paperback)

I have the Baritone edition. It is a good collection of songs from a wide variety of styles and languages. However, there is a pretty important issue with the transpositions in some cases. In some of the pieces, the highest note is a D. Of course, a baritone would never be expected to reach high D, but this leaves you with the octave-down range. This would be just fine, but the songs just sound too low and don't match recordings of other baritones performing the same pieces. It basically seems that some (not all) of these songs are actually written (or transposed) for a bass - not a baritone. Usually, songs written or transposed for baritones reach E flat at a minimum, often an F. These are "classical" songs, for the most part, and a classical baritone should reach the occasional F (at least) with little difficulty.

Also, and this is a minor point that I deal with fairly often, most of the songs are written on the treble clef. Baritones and basses normally use the bass clef.

Later addition: I talked with my voice teacher about this and he says I'm wrong! For this type of song, I should not be going too high and the keys in this book are in fact appropriate. So, I should change my rating to at least 4 stars.