Customer Reviews

Twenty-Six Italian Songs and Arias: For Medium Low Voice

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This book updates the 100-year old Schirmer edition of 17th and 18th century Italian Songs and Arias, used for 4 generations by most serious students of singing in all English-speaking countries. Paton's edition is more historically accurate: he cuts many of the romanticisms that had crept into in the Schirmer edition, adds optional (and appropriate) vocal ornaments, and simplifies the accompanying harmonies. Paton's edition is also more useful to singers, as it contains three different translations of each song (word-for-word, singable, and the underlying emotional idea), and it transcribes all text into the international phonetic alphabet. The page layout is attractive, and the accompanying CD, which contains the piano parts, is excellent. I use my copy every day.

I purchased this book for my sophomore daughter, on the recommendation of her Voice Tutor. She is in a rigorous program and was elated to receive the book. Apparently, it has a wonderful selection of challenging and not-so-challenging selections, geared towards developing voice mastery. She was very happy to receive it and I was happy to facilitate her progress in this way.