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Composing for Voice: Exploring Voice, Language and Music, Second Edition, elucidates how language and music function together from the perspectives of composers, singers and actors, providing an understanding of the complex functions of the voice pedagogically, musicologically and dramatically. Composing for Voice examines the voice across a wide range of musical genres (including pop, jazz, folk, classical, opera and the musical) and explores the fusion of language and music that is unique to song. This second edition is enlarged to attract a wider readership amongst all music and theatre professionals and educators, whilst also engaging an international audience with the introduction of new co-author Maria Huesca.
New to the second edition:
A review of the history of singing
An overview of the development of melisma
A chapter to help performers understand each other, as singers and actors often receive disparate educations
Case studies and qualitative research around song, lyric and meaning
A discussion of the synthetic voice
An introduction to the concept of embodied composition
Interviews with composers and singers
Summaries of various vocal styles
A website with links to performances discussed, as well as related workshops: www.composingforvoice.com
Composing for Voice: Exploring Voice, Language and Music, Second Edition, articulates possibilities for the practical exploration of language, music and voice by composers, singers and actors.
List of contents
Chapter 1. Words
Chapter 2. Composers and Singers
Chapter 3. The Nature of the Singing Voice: A Composer's Perspective
Chapter 4. Voice/Music/Text I
Chapter 5. Voice/Music/Text II
Chapter 6. The Singer and Actor—and Beyond
Chapter 7. Vocal Examples
Chapter 8. Singers on Composers
Chapter 9. Conclusions and a Way Forward
Chapter 10. Educational Activities
About the author
Paul Alan Barker is Professor of Music Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.
Maria Huesca is Lecturer at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.
