The modern conductor and the choral tone

interpretation and vocal technique

Authors

  • Angelo José Fernandes State University of Campinas
  • Adriana Giarola Kayama State University of Campinas
  • Eduardo Augusto Östergren State University of Campinas

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/2317-6377.2006.55344

Keywords:

choral music, choral conducting, choral tone, musical interpretation, vocal technique

Abstract

This article is a reflection on the tasks of the choral conductor in his/her activities as an interpreter, performer and vocal coach. Considering the fact that the conductor is usually the only professional musician in a choral group, this paper analyzes the conductor’s function as an interpreter and points out the several elements that are necessary for the singers’ understanding of the history of music and related styles, including the knowledge of vocal technique, as a fundamental tool in choral performance. The relevance of sonority is also discussed regarding the performance of the choral repertoire and its adaptation to the various choral styles. Lastly, this article suggests steps for the building of a choir as a true choral instrument.

Author Biographies

  • Angelo José Fernandes, State University of Campinas

    Angelo José Fernandes is a conductor, Master in Interpretative Practices (Conducting) from the Institute of Arts at UNICAMP, Specialist in Choral Conducting, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Piano from the School of Music at UFMG. He is currently a doctoral student in Interpretative Practices (Conducting) at the Department of Music at UNICAMP, with Professor Dr. Adriana Giarola Kayama as his advisor and Professor Dr. Eduardo Augusto Östergren as his co-advisor. He actively conducts choirs in Itajubá (MG), his birthplace, and has gained recognition for his work with the Madrigal Musicanto de Itajubá, which recently received awards at the 10th Athens International Choir Festival in Greece, winning the Silver Medal in the Chamber Choirs category and the Bronze Medal in the Mixed Choirs category.

  • Adriana Giarola Kayama, State University of Campinas

    Adriana Giarola Kayama is a Doctor of Performance Practice from the University of Washington (USA) and a faculty member in the Department of Music at UNICAMP, focusing on singing, vocal technique, diction, and chamber music. She coordinated the undergraduate and graduate music programs at UNICAMP. Currently, she serves as president of ANPPOM (National Association for Research and Graduate Studies in Music).

  • Eduardo Augusto Östergren, State University of Campinas

    Eduardo Augusto Östergren is a conductor and professor in the Department of Music at the Institute of Arts at UNICAMP. He is responsible for the choral and orchestral conducting course and also teaches courses in Medieval Music History and Introduction to Music Research. He has taught at the University of North Carolina (Raleigh, USA), Indiana University (Indiana, USA), and Purdue University (Indiana, USA). He has participated in seminars on Choral and Orchestral Conducting at various Brazilian and American universities and has served as a jury member in several competitions.

References

BRANDVIK, Paul. Choral tone. IN: WEBB, Guy B. (ed.). Up front! Becoming the complete choral conductor. Boston: E. C. Schirmer, 1993. p.147-186.

CARRINGTON, Simon. Uma mistura de idéias: uma abordagem para o canto em conjunto. Tradução de Edson Carvalho. Canto-Coral: Publicação Oficial da Associação Brasileira de Regentes de Coros. Brasília: Ano II, nº 1, 2003. p.29.

COSTA, Henrique Olival e SILVA, Marta Assumpção de Andrada e. Voz cantada: evolução, avaliação e terapia fonoaudiológica. São Paulo: Editora Lovise, 1998.

DART, Thurston. A interpretação da música. São Paulo: Martins Fontes, 2000.

DECKER, Harold & HERFORD, Julius. Choral conducting: a symposium. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1988.

DECKER, Harold & KIRK, Colleen. Choral conducting: focus on communication. Long Grove, Illinois: Waveland Press, Inc., 1988.

EDWIN, Robert. The good, the bad, and the ugly: singing teacher-choral director relationships. NATS Journal of singing. Jacksonville, FL: Volume 57, nº 5, 2001. p.53-54.

GARCIA, Manuel. Traité complet de l’art du chant. Genève: Minkoff Editeur, 1985.

GARRETSON, Robert L. Conducting choral music. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1998.

HARNONCOURT, Nikolaus. O discurso dos sons. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar, 1988.

HEFFERNAN, Charles W. Choral music: technique and artistry. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1982.

HOWERTON, George. Technique and style in choral singing. New York: Carl Fischer, Inc., 1956.

MARVIN, Jameson. O canto coral afinado. Tradução de Edson Carvalho. Canto coral: Publicação Oficial da Associação Brasileira de Regentes de Coros. Brasília: Ano I, nº 1, 2001. p.26-30.

MILLER, Richard. On the art of singing. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.

__________. The structure of singing. New York: G. Schirmer, 1986.

MOORE, James A. Como organizar e realizar um ensaio coral eficiente. In: CONVENÇÃO INTERNACIONAL DE REGENTES DE COROS, 1999. Brasília. Anais. p. 47-52.

NEWTON, George. Sonority in singing: an historical essay. Nova York: Ed. Vantage, 1984.

OAKLEY, Paul. O ensaio coral: a performance do regente. In: CONVENÇÃO INTERNACIONAL DE REGENTES DE COROS, 1999. Brasília. Anais. p. 113-128

PACHECO, Alberto José Vieira. Mudanças na prática vocal da escola de canto italiana: uma análise comparativa dos tratados de canto de Píer Tosi, Giambattista Mancini e Manuel P. R. Garcia. 2004. Dissertação (Mestrado) – Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas.

PFAUSTCH, Lloyd. The choral conductor and the rehearsal. IN: DECKER, Harold & HERFORD, Julius. Choral conducting: a symposium. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1973. p.7-68.

PLANK, Steven E. Choral performance: a guide to historical practice. Lanhan: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2004.

SILANTIEN John. Técnicas de ensaio coral para aperfeiçoar a afinação. In: CONVENÇÃO INTERNACIONTAL DE REGENTES DE COROS, 1999. Brasília. Anais. p.91.94.

SMITH, Brenda & SATALOFF, Robert Thayer. Choral pedagogy. San Diego: Singular Publishing Group, 2000.

SUNDBERG, Johan. The science of the singing voice. Illinois: Northern Illinois University Press, 1987.

SWAN, Howard. The development of a choral instrument. IN: DECKER, Harold & HERFORD, Julius. Choral conducting: a symposium. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1973. p.69-111.

Downloads

Published

2006-01-01

Issue

No. 13 (2006): General Topics

Section

Articles in Portuguese/Spanish

License

Copyright (c) 2006 Per Musi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Licença Creative Commons
Except where otherwise noted, contents on this site are licensed under a  Creative Commons - Atribuição 4.0 Internacional.

How to Cite

“The Modern Conductor and the Choral Tone: Interpretation and Vocal Technique”. 2006. Per Musi, no. 13 (January): 33-51. https://doi.org/10.35699/2317-6377.2006.55344.