MUS 339B: German Diction

Various master classes available through Academic Video Online.

Short videos to learn about IPA and diction by Jerome Butler, a Juilliard-trained dialect and vocal coach for theatre, television, and film.

Discussion with Nico Castel, IPA enthusiast and former diction coach of the Metropolitan Opera.

A study is presented that examines how the /r/ has been pronounced in the German lied over time and discusses a "modernized" pronunciation pattern in singing by young German vocalists that is closer to today's spoken German. Høyam/Zickfeldt (H/Z) present a good overview of the different r-variants and in which positions they can be used. The author's Orphaug model is closely related to the H/Z model but has been revised according to what, in her experience and research, best mirrors the usage of /r/-allophones among younger German singers.

Presents the second article of a two-part series which presents a detailed discussion of sung diction strategies for dealing with the German orthographic r in all word and phrase environments. Various environments in which orthographic "r" occurs in German language; Comparisons between spoken and sung norms of the letter; Environmentally conditioned strategies for lyric diction; Outline of variables that can influence the choice of /r/ allophone in musical performance.

Coverage from 1997 to the present.

Some of the CDs available at the Library featuring Lieder.