Vocal Science for Elite Singers

Joseph Talia, OAM




Once again, noted tenor, teacher, researcher, and operatic director, Joseph Talia, delves deep into the world of singing with this exploration of the voice. Having addressed at length persistent issues of voice production in his recent book History of Vocal Pedagogy, he now turns his mind to the benefits of vocal science. 

He introduces a cavalcade of colourful historical characters whose diligent work and unrelenting pursuit of excellence have made a tremendous and enduring contribution to the art of singing, promoting a more direct, objective and secure route towards the goal of bringing elite singers and artists to fruition.

He analyses and clarifies the knowledge accruing from the early vocal scientists, including that from Ferrein, Müller, García, Mandl, Helmholtz, and having elaborated on its true value, he gives it perspective, and moves on to the contemporary scientists. Among the most notable of these modern scientists and pedagogues we find such modern luminaries as van den Berg, Bouhuys, Fant, Hixon, Rothenberg, Rubin, Appelman, Vennard, Miller, Sundberg, Titze and many others whom we encounter in the pages of this book.

Talia proclaims the value of physiologic and scientific work and is passionate about its possibilities, but is ultimately persuaded that in order to produce elite singers, this knowledge must be combined with intuition, and passion, balanced with a penetrating intellect and an unrelenting pursuit of greatness. Mediocrity in art, will never do. 

Vocal Science for Elite Singers is a vital resource for voice teachers, vocal researchers, serious vocal students, and vocal connoisseurs. 

About the Author

While studying singing, piano and music theory, Dr. Joseph Talia gained valuable experience and early success competing in vocal Eisteddfods, as well as making appearances on television. He was also awarded a scholarship to the Australian National Opera School in Melbourne. He later studied in Milan with Fernando Bandera, Vladimiro Badiali and Aldo Azzali, was engaged to sing Rodolfo in La Boheme and Alfredo in La Traviata at the Teatro Eliseo in Rome, and performed as a concert artist in Milan, Vercelli, and other Italian cities.

 His repertoire consists of over 50 major tenor roles in operas as diverse as Don Giovanni, La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, Tosca, Il Tabarro, Cavalleri Rusticana, La Traviata, Rigoletto, Il Corsaro, Faust, Carmen, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Consul, Albert Herring, The Merry Widow, Die Fledermaus, Student Prince and many others.

Dr. Talia maintains a successful studio in Melbourne where apart from his regular students, he teaches visiting students from New Zealand, Europe, Japan, China and Korea. He is also in demand as an adjudicator of international competitions, such as the Paolo Tosti, in Ortona, the Mattia Battistini International in Rieti, and The Izmir International in Turkey. He has conducted International master classes, in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Belgium and other European centres. He has also collaborated with such luminaries as Rolando Panerai, Gabriella Tucci, Afro Poli, Francisco Ortiz, Carmen Bustamanti, Gabriela Fontana, Salvatore Fisichella, Vincenzo La Scola, Roman Vlad, Gianni Tangucci, Alberto Triola.

Dr. Talia has pursued tertiary studies in business administration with an emphasis on the Arts. His doctoral thesis addressed the issue of cultural hegemony and the economics of the performing arts. Throughout this time he devoted himself to the study of vocal pedagogy via the works of the old masters and whatever vocal science was then available. His special interest has resulted in his current work.

Dr. Talia was artistic director of Melbourne City Opera from 1996 to 2014, and the Globe Opera Company for ten years before that. He has been involved in over 140 opera productions and has directed such masterpieces as La Boheme, Carmen, Andrea Chenier, Tosca and La Rondine.

Dr. Talia has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his dedicated services to opera over a period of four decades.

Reviews

Talia has an extensive knowledge of the teaching of the old masters, as well as a comprehensive knowledge of recent voice science. He brings them together to answer the questions raised by current practitioners striving for the technical excellence to meet the musical and emotional demands of elite performance.

Jean Callaghan, PhD, FTCL, LMusA. Author of Singing and Science: Body, Brain and Voice 

Table of Contents

Foreword 

Introduction: A Holistic View of the Vocal Instrument 

CHAPTER 1: BREATHING FOR SINGING 

CHAPTER 2: THE VOCAL SUPPORT SYSTEM 

CHAPTER 3: SUBGLOTTIC PRESSURE: THE VOCAL DRIVING FORCE 

CHAPTER 4: SOURCE-BREATH CONNECTION 

CHAPTER 5: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE LARYNX 

CHAPTER 6: THE LARYNX 

CHAPTER 7: VOCAL ONSET 

CHAPTER 8: GARCÍA’S COUP DE GLOTTE 

CHAPTER 9: REGISTRATION 

CHAPTER10: LINEAR AND NON-LINEAR SOURCE-TRACT INTERACT 

CHAPTER 11: THE PHARYNX AS A RESONATOR 

CHAPTER 12: INTRODUCTION TO CONSONANTS 

CHAPTER 13: ACOUSTIC LAWS AND THE VOCAL RESONATOR 

CHAPTER 14: FORMANTS AND FORMANT TUNING 

CHAPTER 15: SOUND ACOUSTICS AND WAVE PROPAGATION 

APPENDIX A: MUSCLES OF RESPIRATION 

APPENDIX B: LARYNGEAL MUSCULATURE 

APPENDIX C: HEAD AND NECK MUSCLES 

BIBLIOGRAPHY