Method of Italian Singing

The purpose of this work is to bridge the gap between musicological theory and methodological practice in the study of singing. This singing method explores the ‘Italian tradition’, an idea to which we will make constant reference in the chapters that follow.

We begin with a discussion of terms and their meanings, and go on to develop a teaching course in which vocal practice is based on exercises and ‘solfeggi’ from historical sources, correlated with live testimony from those who were present at the time. It goes without saying that the full extent and complexity of this subject cannot be exhausted in the pages of a single volume.

For this reason, the contents of this method should be seen as an introduction to the fundamental principles of the ‘antica scuola italiana’, the ancient Italian school of singing, which we examine from ‘Le Nuove Musiche’ by Giulio Caccini up to bel canto singing of the early 19th century.