Exploring English Lyrics: Selection and Pronunciation of English Art Song Repertoire

Exploring English Lyrics is the most unified collection of English art texts with transcriptions available, containing 790 unique art song selections with pronunciation as defined by the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). It is an invaluable resource for both the native speaking singer and singers with no previous exposure to the English language. These lyrics span nearly 500 years of art song history with texts set by more than 129 composers. Diverse segments of British, American, African American, Canadian, Scottish, Irish, and Australian cultures are represented.

The scope of the lyrics selected includes works appropriate for beginners as well as those being performed by the world’s most prominent professional singers. Texts of frequently performed songs from the Royal Conservatory of Music Development Program adjudications, new composers’ collected works, as well as lyrics from major anthologies such as Joan Boytim’s First Book series are included. Detailed indications for selections that require a particular dialect or character voice pronunciation are provided. Helpful indices enable the reader to search by composer, song cycle, first line, or song title. References to settings of texts by multiple composers are indicated throughout the book.

The book assists the teacher with repertoire selections while giving the student an accurate and elegant pronunciation that is ideal for intelligibility and optimal singing technique. Knowledge of the phonetic system and detailed pronunciation of new and standard repertoire are readily accessible with this text.

Versatile artist, teacher, arts administrator, and baritone Allen Henderson is Executive Director of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). In this position, he serves as administrator for the International Congress of Voice Teachers held every four years at locations around the world. He is also Professor of Music at Georgia Southern University where he teaches voice and for many years taught foreign language diction.

Cheri Montgomery is a member of the voice faculty at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University and an author and lecturer on the topics of voice and diction. Her published texts include: the Lyric Diction Workbook Series (for English, Italian, Latin, German, French, Spanish, and Russian lyric diction courses); the IPA Handbook for Singers, Phonetic Readings for Lyric Diction, and Phonetic Transcription for Lyric Diction (for the abbreviated lyric diction course); and A Sketchbook Atlas of the Vocal Tract and The Singer’s Daily Practice Journal, volumes I, II, III (for private and class voice).