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01 Move the Passions
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak – Rhetoric and oration as the basis for early 17th-century singing. Discussion of period sources and an example of moving the passions (Monteverdi’s “Sì dolce è’l tormento”).
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02 Pause to Express – The Art of Phrasing
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak – Phrasing in early 17th-century music. Discussion of period sources and examples of adding pauses to spoken text (Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be” from Hamlet) and songs (Campion’s “There is none, O none but you” and Dowland’s “Awake sweet love”).
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03 Alter the Rhythm – Noble Negligence of Notation
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak – The liberation of early 17th-century music from its notation. Discussion of period sources and examples of altering the rhythm (Campion’s “The peacefull westerne winde,” Dowland’s “Sorrow stay,” and Monteverdi’s “Sì dolce è’l tormento”).
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04 Vary the Beat – Follow the Passions
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak – Tempo freedom in early 17th-century music. Discussion of period sources and examples of varying the beat (Caccini’s “Amor io parto” and Monteverdi’s “Sì dolce è’l tormento).
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05 Fundamental Principles of 18th-Century Vocal Style
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak – The four pillars of 18th-century performance style. Discussion of period sources and principles of vocal delivery common between c.1700 and c.1800.
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06 Recitative – Speaking in Notes
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak – Principles of recitative performance. Discussion of period sources and an example of delivering recitative in a half spoken / half sung way (Conti, ”Dubbio di vostra fede,” 1750).
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07 Da Capo Aria
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak – Principles of da capo aria delivery. Discussion of period sources and an example of singing an aria with 18th-century expressive devices (Conti, “Dopo tante e tante pene,” 1750).
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08 Messa di Voce – The Soul of Music
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak: Messa di voce – The Soul of Music. Through the swelling and dying of the voice, singers communicated emotion to listeners. Discussion of sources from the 17th to 19th centuries, as well as practical examples.
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09 Portamento di Voce – The Perfection of Vocal Music
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak: Portamento di voce – The Perfection of Vocal Music. To unite expression and sentiment, singers connected notes in a variety of ways (sostenuto, legato, sliding). Discussion of sources from the 17th to 19th centuries, as well as practical examples.
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10 Legato and Staccato – Cornerstones of Expression
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak: Legato and Staccato – Cornerstones of Expression. Late 18th- and early 19th-century singers incorporated legato and staccato in their performances to animate recitatives and arias with a pleasing variety. Discussion of the various practices associated with the terms.
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11 Figures of Rhetoric Made Manifest
Robert Toft
Sing as You Speak – Principles of delivering rhetorical figures. Discussion of period sources and the ways singers can use figures to move listeners.
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12 Patti Sings Mozart
Robert Toft
Patti Sings Mozart – A discussion of Mozart's "Voi che sapete" as sung by Adelina Patti (1905) and what we can learn about early 19th-century vocal performance from Patti's recording.
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13 Musica Ficta in the 16th Century
Robert Toft
Musica Ficta in the 16th Century – Composers rarely notated sharps and flats in madrigals, chansons, and motets, as they expected singers to apply signa chromatica during performance. Discussion of the principles surrounding the extempore addition of sharps and flats, as well as practical examples.