DOWNLOAD HISTORICAL VOCAL PEDAGOGY
This curated catalog contains 210 texts spanning 250 years.
“The work you have done to collect these many rare treatises is truly commendable and priceless, and someone should offer you an honorary doctorate. I can’t say it enough: teachers and singers should read many of these rare resources and read them without their own inflection. We would have a better world of singing as a result.”
TYSON DEATON — Conductor & Collaborative Pianist
Akin, W. A. The Voice: An Introduction to Practical Phonology (1911).
Anfossi, Maria. A Theoretical and Practical Treatise on the Art of Singing (Tratto teorico-pratico sull'arte del canto) (1837).
Aprile, Giuseppe. The Modern Italian Method of Singing (1795). Castrato and student of Gregorio Sciroli.
Bach, Albert Bernard. On Musical Education and Vocal Culture for Vocalists and Teachers of Singing (1883); The Principles of Singing: A Practical Guide for Vocalists and Teachers (1912). Student of Salvatore Marchesi and Francesco Lamperti.
Bacilly, Benigenes de. Remarque curieuses sur l’art de bien chanter (1668).
Baldwin, Adele Laeis. Laeis-Baldwin Method of the Production of Speech-Sounds (1916). Student of Mme. Latey (herself a student of Erminia Rudersdorff), Achille Errani, Francesco Lamperti, and Mme. de la Grange.
Barnette, Annie, M. R. Talks About Singing; Or How To Practice (1886). Student of Luigi Vannuccini.
Bassini, Carlo. Art of Singing (1857); Bassini's Vocal Method (1886). A violinist who made his mark as a voice teacher.
Bax, Saint-Yves. Exercices Journaliers (1875). Student of Manuel Garcia and professor at the Paris Conservatoire.
Belari, Emilio (Emilio Yela de la Torre). Secrets of the Voice in Singing: Explained According to the Laws of Acoustics and Physiology (1883); Voice Teaching is a Fraud (1892).
Benjamin, William Augustus. Vocal Method (1912).
Bidoli, Emi de. Reminiscences of a Vocal Teacher (1947). Student of Aglaja Orgeni and Pauline Viardot-García.
Blanchet, Jean. L'art, ou les principes philosophiques du chant (1756).
Botume, John Franklin. Modern Singing Methods: Their Uses and Abuses (1885). Student of Vincenzo Cirillo.
Brower, Harriette. Vocal Mastery: Talks with Master Singers and Teachers (1917).
Brown, William Earl. Vocal Wisdom: Maxims of Giovanni Battista Lamperti (1931). Student of G. B. Lamperti.
Busti, Allesandro. Studio di Canto per baritono (1865/1874). Student of castrato Girolamo Crescentini.
By a Singer. Singing or Method of Song and Speech (1905).
Cappiani, Luisa. Practical Helps and Hints for Perfection in Singing (1908). Student of Francesco Lamperti.
Cazalet, William Wahab. The Voice; or, the Art of Singing (1861).
Celoni, Anna Maria Pelligini. Grammatica, o siano regole di ben cantare (1810).
Ciccolina, Sophia Marquise A. Deep Breathing: As a Means of the Art of Song, and of Curing Weakness and Affections of the Throat and Lungs, Especially Consumption (1883). Student of François Wartel, himself a student of Adolphe Nourrit, who studied with Manuel García Sr.
Cirillo, Vincenzo. A Lecture on the Art of Singing (1882). Student of Alessandro Busti, who studied with Girolamo Crescentini.
Clerici, Giovanni. Perfection in Singing (1906).
Clippinger, David Alva. Systematic Voice Training (1910); The Head Voice and Other Problems (1917); Fundamental of Voice Training (1929). Student of George F. Root and William Shakespeare.
Cooke, Clifton. Practical Singing (1916). Student of Manuel García Jr.
Cooke, James Francis. Great Singers on the Art of Singing (1921).
Corri, Domenico. The Singer's Preceptor (1810). Student of Nicola Porpora.
Crescentini, Girolamo. Racolta di escerzi per il canto all'uso del vocalizzo, con discorso prelininare (1810-11); Google version. Castrato and student of Lorenzo Gibelli.
Crivelli, Domenico. The Art of Singing (1820). Student of soprano castrato Giuseppe Millico.
Curry, Samuel Silas. Foundations of Expression: Studies and Problems for Developing the Voice, Body and Mind in Reading and Speaking (1907); Mind and Voice: Principals and Methods in Vocal Training (1910); Hints on the Voice in Giving Commands (1918). Student of Francesco Lamperti.
D'Esté, John. The Vocalists' Vade Mecum; or, Pocket Companion (1872).
Dow, Sabrina. Artistic Singing (1883). Student of Cesare Badiali, himself a student of Eliodor Bianchi.
Duprez, Gilbert-Louis. L'Art du Chant (1846).
Duval, John H. The Secrets of Svengali (1922), (Google Version). Student of Juliani, himself a student of Francesco Lamperti.
Duvivier, Alphonse Devin. Some Remarks on the Voice and the Art of Singing (1897). Pianist and composer associated with Manuel Garcia.
Emerson, Charles Wesley. Psycho Vox; Or: The Emerson System of Voice Culture (1897).
Faure, Jean-Baptiste. La Voix et le Chant (1886).
Favaro Reuter, Jeanette. The Development of the Singing Voice by Franziska Martienßen-Lohman: A Critical Translation (1936/2001). Martienßen-Lohmann was a student of Johannes Messchaert who studied with Julius Stockhausen, a student of Manuel Garcia, Jr.
Ferrari, Giacomo Gotifredo. A Concise Treatise on Italian Singing (1818).
Fétis, François-Joseph. Méthode des Méthodes de Chant (1869).
Field, Antonia Maria. Five Years of Vocal Study Under Fernando Michelena (1922).
Fields, Victor Alexander. Training the Singing Voice: An Analysis of Working Concepts Contained in Recent Contributions to Vocal Pedagogy (1947).
Fillebrown, Thomas. Resonance in Speaking and Singing (1911). Student of William Haskell Stockbridge, himself a student of Luigi Vannuccini.
Florimo, Francesco. Breve Metodo di Canto (1853). Dedicated to Girolamo Crescentini.
Forrest, Margaret Ogburn. An Analysis of the Vocal Teaching Techniques of Allan Rogers Lindquest (1984). Doctoral Dissertation.
Franca, Ida. Manual of Bel Canto (1959). Student of Mattia Battistini.
Fuchs, Albert. Bel Canto (1902).
García, Gustave. The Actor's Art (1882); The Singing Teacher’s Note Book: A Short Synopsis of Voice Production for Teachers of Singing and Examination Candidates (1910); Guide to Solo Singing (1912). Son and student of Manuel García Jr.
García, Manuel Sr. Exercises pour la voix (1835). Student of Giovanni Anzani, himself a student of Nicola Porpora.
García, Manuel Jr. L'Art du Chant, Vol 1 & 2 (1840/1847); Observations on the Human Voice (1854); New Treatise on the Art of Singing (c. 1880, English translation & edited edition of Vol 1); Hints on Singing (1884). Student of Manuel García Sr, and Giovanni Anzani.
Garaudé, Alexis de. Méthode Complete de Chant (1840). Student of Girolamo Crescentini. This edition is a revision the original 1809 publication.
Girard, Mary Augusta Brown. Vocal Art: How to Tune a Voice and Make It a Beautiful Instrument: Advice to Singers (1909). The first edition was printed in 1892 and later retitled The Psychology of Vocal Art: How to Train a Voice and Make it a Beautiful Instrument for Speaking and Singing (1920). Student of Francesco Lamperti.
Hack, Guli. Voice Cultivation (1904). Student of Gustave Garcia, son of Manuel Garcia Jr.
Hahn, Reynaldo. Du Chant (1920).
Haslam, W. E. Style in Singing (1911).
Hast, Harry Gregory. The Singer’s Art (1925). Student of Sim Reeves, himself a student of Marco Bordogni and Alberto Mazzucato.
Henderson, William James. The Art of the Singer; Practical Hints about Vocal Technics and Style (1920); Early History of Singing (1921). Student of Antonio Torriani.
Héritte-Viardot, Louise. Memories and Adventures (1913). Daughter and student of Pauline Viardot-Garcia.
Herman, Reinhold Ludwig. An Open Door for Singers: Hints to Vocalists (1912).
Hey, Julius. Deutscher Gesangs-Unterricht (1884). Student of Francesco Lamperti.
Holmstrom, V. M. "Jenny Lind's Singing Method," The Musical Quarterly, October 1, 1917.
Holtzem, L. A. Bases de L'Art du Chant (1863). Student of Manuel García and Francesco Lamperti.
Huckel, William. Practical Instructions for the Cultivation of Voice (1820). Student of Domenico Corri, himself a student of Nicola Porpora.
Hurlbut, Harold. Vocal Fundamentals (1916). Student of Jean de Reszke.
Isnardon, Jacques. Le chant théâtral (1911).
James, Mary Ingles. Scientific Tone Production: A Manuel for Teachers and Students of Singing and Speaking (1903). Student of Erminia Rudersdorff, herself a student of Manuel García, François Wartel, Marco Bordogni, and De Micheront.
Jones, Dora Duty. The Technique of Speech: A Guide to the Principles of Diction According to the Principles of Resonance (1913); Lyric Diction for Singers, Actors and Public Speakers (1913). Student of Mathilde Marchesi.
Jousse, Jean. The Vocal Primer (1830); A Catechism of Singing: In which the Rudiments of that Delightful Art are Clearly Explained and Illustrated (1837).
Kirkland, Henry Stuart. Expression in Singing: a practical study of means and ends (1916). Student of Charles Lunn and Manuel García Jr.
Klein, Herman. An Essay on the Bel Canto (1923); “The Bel Canto,” Musical Times (1924). Student of Manual García Jr.
Klingstedt, Paul T. Common Sense in Vocal Pedagogy as Prescribed by Early Italian Masters (1941).
Kofler, Leo. The Art of Breathing as the Basis of Tone Production (1887); The Old Italian School of Singing (1883).
Kohut-Mannstein, Elisabeth. Die Grosse Altitalienische Gesangsschule (1922).
Lablache, Luigi. Method of Singing (1873). Student of castrato Girolamo Crescentini.
Lamperti, Francesco. The Art of Singing (1890); Daily Exercises in Singing (1890); Studies in Bravura for Mezzo-Soprano (1899). Student of Antonio Trivulsi.
Lamperti, Giovanni Battista. The Technics of Bel Canto (1905). Son of Francesco Lamperti.
Lankow, Anna. The Science and Art of Singing (1903). Student of Adolf Brömme, himself a student of Manuel García Jr.
Larkcom, Agnes J. The Singer's Art (1920). Student of Manuel García Jr.
Lawton, Willam H. The Singing Voice and Its Practical Cultivation (1901). Student of Emil Behnke.
Lehmann, Lilli. Mein Gesangskunst (1902); How to Sing (1914).
Lehmann, Liza. Practical Hints for Students of Singing (1913). Student of Jenny Lind.
Leiser, Clara. Jean de Reszke and the Great Days of Opera (1934). See Appendix: "Jean de Reszke's Principles of Singing" by Walter-Johnstone Douglas.
Lemaire, Téophile; Lavoix, Henri. Les Chant: ses principes et son histoire (1881).
Leonesi, Luigi. La Scuola di Canto dell’epoca d’oro (secolo XVII) Opinioni de’ Cantori Antichi e Moderni di Pier Francesco Tosi (1904).
Lunn, Charles. The English Are Not a Musical People (1869); Vox Populi: A Sequel to The Philosophy of Voice (1880); The Philosophy of Voice (1888, 6th Edition); The Voice and Its Training (1889). Student of (Wenceslao) Venceslao Cattaneo and a friend and associate of Manuel Garcia, Jr.
Mackenzie, Morell. The Hygiene of the Vocal Organs: A Practical Handbook for Singers and Speakers (1891).
Mackinlay, Sterling. The Singing Voice and Its Training, 1910. Student of Manuel García Jr.
Mancini, Giovanni Battista. Practical Reflections of the Figurative Art of Singing (1777).
Mannstiein, Heinrich Ferdinand. Da System der grosse Gesangschule des Bernacchi von Bologna German/French edition c. 1835. Student of Vincenzo Caselli, himself a student of Antonio Bernacchi.
Marafioti, Maria P. Caruso's method of voice production (1922).
Marchesi, Blanche. Singer's Pilgrimage (1923); The Singer’s Catechism and Creed (1932). Student and daughter of Mathilde Marchesi.
Marchesi, Mathilde. The Marchesi Vocal Method (c. 1887); L'Art du Chant (1887); Ten Singing Lessons (1901). Student of Manuel García Jr.
Marchesi, Salvatore. A Vademecum for Singing Teachers and Pupils (1902); Twenty Elementary and Progressive Vocalises (1899). Student of Manuel García Jr. and Francesco Lamperti.
Martienssen, Von Franziska. "Die Elemente Der Stimmbildung Messchaerts," Die Musik, Vol 3, April-June 1913: 334. She was a student of Johannes Messchaert, who studied with Julius Stockhausen and was a student of Manuel Garcia Jr.
Medini, Francis Roena. The What and How of Vocal Culture (1893). Student of Francesco Lamperti.
Melba, Nellie (Dame). Melba Method (1926). Student of Mrs. Christian and Mathilde Marchesi—both students of Manuel García Jr.
Merlin, María de la Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo. Memoire and Letters of Maria Maribran by the Countess de Merlin (1840) vol 1; Memoire and Letters of Maria Malibran by the Countess de Merlin (1840) vol 2.. Student of Manuel García Sr.
Meyerheim, J. L’Art du Chant Technique (1904). Student of Francesco Lamperti.
Myer, Edmund J. Truths of Importance to Vocalists (1883); Vocal Reinforcement (1891); Position and Action in Singing (1897); The Renaissance of Vocal Art (1902); The Vocal Instructor (1913).
Nathan, Issac, Musurgia Vocalis (1836). Student of Nicola Porpora.
Nava, Gaetano. 24 Solfeggi per voce di baritono (1869; Method of Instruction for a Baritone Voice (1872); Practical Cultivation for Bass and Baritone Voice (1899); Elements of Vocalization for Young Beginners, Vol 2 (1899); Fifty-one progressive melodies for soprano or tenor with piano accompaniment: op. 38; complete in one volume and in two books (1899); Twenty-four solfeggi for mezzo-soprano and baritone in the treble and bass-clefs (1899). Student of his father "Pollini," and the Milan Conservatory.
Osgood, George L. Guide in the Art of Singing, Based on the Reliable Traditions of the Italian School of Vocalization and Practical Developments of Modern Science (1874). Student of Ferdinand Sieber and Francesco Lamperti.
Panseron, Auguste Mathieu. Complete Method of Vocalization for Soprano and Tenor (1898); Méthode complète de vocalisation (IMSLP).
Pellegrini-Celoni, Anna Maria. Gramatica: o siano Regole de ben cantare (1810).
Penna, Frederic. "Some Thoughts About Singing." Proceedings of the Musical Association, 16th Session, January 6th, 1890: 41-63.
Pretorius, Carl. The Tone Placed and Developed (1907). Student of Mrs. P. J. Brown, herself a student of Vincenzo Cirillo.
Proschowsky, Frank. The Way to Sing (1923). Student of A. D. Duvivier, himself a student of Manuel García Jr.
Radomski, Teresa. Manuel García (1805-1906): A Bicentenary Reflection (2006).
Randegger, Alberto. Singing (1878).
Ranske, Jutta Mordt Bell. Voice and Nerve Control (1915).
Reeves, Sims. The Art of Singing (1909). Student of Marco Bordogni and Alberto Mazzucato.
Rialp, Francis Charles Maria de. The Legitimate School of Singing (1884).
Robinson-Duff, Sarah. Simple Truths Used by Great Singers (1919). Student of Mathilde Marchesi, herself a student of Manuel García Jr.
Rogers, Clara Kathleen (Clara Doria). The Philosophy of Singing (1893); My Voice and I, Or, The Relationship of the Singer to the Song (1910); English Diction: A Practical System for the Improvement of Defective Voices, and the Attainment of Perfect Diction in Both Speech and Song (1912). Studied with Goetze at the Leipsic Conservatory, Frau Zimmerman in Paris, and San Giovanni in Milan.
Rogers, Francis. "The Singing Teacher," Scribner's Magazine, April 1914: 466-468.
Root, Frederic W. School of Singing (1873); Polychrome Lessons in Voice Culture (1896); "Imagination and Fact in Vocal Culture," Musical Quarterly, January 1, 1917. Student of Luigi Vannuccini.
Rosewald, Julie. How Shall I Practice? Practical Suggestions to Students of Vocal Music (1892). Student of Marie von Marra.
Saenger, Oscar. The Oscar Saenger Course in Vocal Training (1918). Student of Jacques Bouhy.
Saint-Dolby, Charlotte. Madam Sainton-Dolby's Tutor for English Singers (Ladies Voices): A Complete Course of Practical Instruction in the Art of Singing (1872). Pupil of Domenico Crivelli.
Sands, Mollie. "The Teaching of Singing in Eighteenth-Century England," Proceedings for the Musical Association, 70th Session (1943-1944), pp. 11-33. Great granddaughter of Issac Nathan, himself a student of Domenico Corri—the latter a pupil of Nicola Porpora.
Santley, Charles. Singer and Student: Reminiscences of Charles Santley (1892). Student of Gaetano Nava and Manuel García.
Scheidemantel, Karl. Voice-Culture (1910). Student of Julius Stockhausen, himself a student of Manuel García Jr.
Schoen-René, Anna Eugénie, Amercia's Musical Inheritance: Memories and Reminiscences (1941). Student of Francesco Lamperti, Pauline Viardot-García, and Manuel García.
Sedie, Enrico Delle. L'art lyrique: traité complet de chant et de déclamation lyrique (1874); Arte e Fisologia del Canto (1876); Vocal Art (1886): A Complete Method of Singing (1894). Student of Cesario Galeffi.
Seiler, Emma. The Voice in Singing (1893).
Shakespeare, William. The Art of Singing (1910); The Art of Singing (1921); Plain Words on Singing (1924). Student of Francesco Lamperti.
Shaw, William W. The Lost Vocal Art and Its Restoration (1914). Student of Luigi Vannuccini, William Shakespeare, and Francesco Lamperti.
Sieber, Ferdinand. Lehrbuch der Gesangskunst: zum Gebrauch für Lehrer un Schüler des Sologesangs (1856) Vol 1; The Art of Singing (1872). Student of Johannes Aloys Miksch, Farini, and Giorgio Ronconi.
Silva, Giulio. Advice to Beginners in Singing (1917).
Singer, By A. Singing, or, Method of Song and Speech (1905).
Somigli, Carlo, Giulo Stockhausen e la Scuola del Canto Artistico (1908). Student of Julius Stockhausen, who studied with Manuel Garcia.
Stephenson, Robert. How to Breath, Speak and Sing (1914). Lamperti School.
Stockhausen, Julius. Gesangs-Methode (1884); Method of Singing (1884); Der Buchstabe G und die sieben Regeln des Herrn H. Dorn, nebst einer Vocal- und Consonanten-Tabelle, von Julius Stockhausen (1880); Das sänger-alphabet; oder, Die sprachelemente als stimm-bildungsmittel (1901). Student of Manuel García Jr.
Stubbs, Edward G. The Adult Male Alto or Counter-Tenor Voice (1908).
Taylor, David Clark. The Psychology of Singing (1908); Self-Help for Singers: A Manual for Self-Instruction, Based on the Old Italian Method (1914); "Voice Culture Past and Present," Musical Quarterly, July 1, 1915; New Light on the Old Italian Method: an Outline of the Historical System of Vocal Culture and a Plea for its Revival (1916); The Melodic Method in School Music: A Manual for Teachers and Supervisors (1918).
Tetrazzini, Luisa. The Art of Singing (1909); How to Sing (1928).
Thorp, George; Nicholl, W. M. A Textbook of the Natural Use of the Voice (1899). Nicholl was a student of Manuel García Jr.
Thurwanger, Camille. Musical Diction; an Orthologic Method for Acquiring a Perfect Pronunciation in the Speaking and Especially in the Singing of the French Language, for the Special Use of English-Speaking People (1910). God-son of painter Camille Corot.
Tilla, Haydon. Why We Sing, and Where the Voice is Formed and Placed (1887).
Tosi, Pier Francesco. Observations on the Florid Song (1743).
Tubbs, Frank Herbert. Seed Thoughts for Singers (1897). A student of Lyman Wheeler, Manuel García Jr., Francesco Lamperti, and William Shakespeare.
Urso, Camilla. "Note-Book of the Pianist and of the Singer: Method of Singing of the Paris Conservatoire. Second Part. On the Practice of the Method," The American Art Journal (1866-1867), Volume 6.
Vaccai, Nicola. Metodo practico de canto italiano per camera (1880). First printing 1832.
Viardot-García, Pauline. An Hour of Study (1880). Daughter of Manuel García Sr.
Vigna, Tecla. Daily Exercises: Complied and Adapted by Signorina Tecla Vigna (1894). A pianist and contralto, Tecla studied voice with Leoni at the Milan Conservatory and accompanied Francesco Lamperti’s students.
Wheeler, Harry J. Vocal Physiology, Vocal Culture and Singing (1883). Student of Manuel García Jr. and Francesco Lamperti.
Walker, Francis. Letters of a Baritone (1895). Student of Francesco Cortesi.
Witherspoon, Herbert. Singing: A Treatise for Teachers and Students (1925). Student of Giovanni Battista Lamperti.
Withrow, Marie. Some Staccato Notes for Singer (1915).
Wolff, Eugene. La décadence du bel-canto et sa renaissance par la formation rationelle de la voix (1908).
Wronski, Thaddeus. The Singer and His Art (1921).
Zanten, Cornelie van. Bel-Canto de Wortes: Lehre der Stimmberherrschung durch das Wort Theoretische Einführung in die Gesangskunst met systematischen zu ihrer Praxis (1911). Student of Francesco Lamperti.
Zay, William Henri. Practical Psychology of Voice and of Life (1917). Student of William Shakespeare, himself a student of Francesco Lamperti.