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From: Margaret Harrison
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: Art song performing style
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LElectrica-at-aol.com wrote:

> This is a very broad question and open to lots of differences in opinion, but
> what exactly is Art Song Style? I have had lots of theatrical experience,
> but some comments I get in competitions point out that I perform art songs in
> a pop style. When I say perform I mean gestures, not singing. I have been
> told that it is a very intimate style, but I have never quite grasped the
> real picture yet.

Without having seen or heard you, it's hard to answer that question, but I'll try anyway.

When I hear young singers perform art songs and think to myself "pop style", I usually am
hearing pop VOCAL mannerisms, like sliding into notes, or singing notes a little ahead of
the beat. I think most young singers aren't even aware they're doing this (unless their
teachers have pointed it out to them). As a listener, I feel uncomfortable when I hear
this type of singing in art songs, and feel like I want to hear only the notes the
composer wrote. Whereas when I listen to someone singing pop music, I get annoyed if the
singer is too "accurate", and omits the pop ornaments.

As far as physical appearance, in art song (as opposed to opera or any theatrical work),
the singer is expected to remain fairly still (but never stiff), and communicate the ideas
and emotions of the text with the voice and the face. Not everybody agrees with this
approach to art song, but for a student, I think the best way is to learn to sing while
still. Then, when the singer has mastered singing still and is a more accomplished
artist, gestures and movement can be used in an appropriate manner. In any event, less
physical movement is more in art song. If there's too much movement, I find myself
watching the singer move rather than listening to the voice, music and text.

Perhaps you can think of art song as a small, but fine quality gemstone, whose beauty is
best appreciated in a simple, graceful setting.

Peggy

--
Margaret Harrison, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
"Music for a While Shall All Your Cares Beguile"
mailto:peggyh-at-ix.netcom.com