- Vocalise
A vocalise (pronounced voe-ka-LEEZE) is a vocal exercise (often one suitable for performance) without words, which is sung on one or more
vowel sounds. The singing of vocalise is calledvocalization .Vocalise dates back to the mid-18th century.
Jean-Antoine Bérard 's 1755 compilation "L’art du chant " includes a selection of songs (sans paroles) by composers such as Lully and Rameau, chosen for their value as exercises in vocal technique. Accompanying the exercises were instructions on mastering the technical challenges they posed. By the 19th century vocalises were commonly composed specifically forpedagogical purposes rather than being adapted from existing songs.A related tradition of vocalise sprang up in the 19th century, with wordless technical etudes set to piano accompaniment, following the fashion of the time of setting even the most mechanical of
étude s to piano accompaniment with the thought that this would inspire the performer to execute the music more artistically.One of the best-known examples of vocalise is Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise" op. 34 no. 14, written in 1912 for soprano
Antonina Nezhdanova . It has been recorded numerous times and adapted for other voice types as well asorchestra l and solo instrumental performance.The first, slow movement of
Heitor Villa-Lobos 's "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5" (1938) features a soprano aria over a cello ensemble, which evolves into an extended vocalise that floats over a pizzicato accompaniment.Vocalese , which is a play on "vocalise," is a type ofjazz singing in which new words are created and sung to existing instrumental improvisations.The Swingle Singers famously combined both these techniques.In Indian classical music, the tradition of "aakaar" is used as a vocal exercise before singing, and also to a certain extent adds to the singing and the melody.
ee also
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Melisma References
*Owen Jander: "Vocalise." "Grove Music" Online, ed. L. Macy. Accessed 25 Jun 05 [http://www.grovemusic.com (subscription access)] .
External links
* [http://artfuljesus.0catch.com/Repertoire/vocalises.html List of Vocalises]
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