1st Edition
Welsh Vocal Music A Guide to Lyric Diction and Repertoire
Preface
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Introduction
PART I: Welsh Lyric Diction
1 An Introduction to the Welsh Language
2 Orthography and Prosody
3 Vowels
4 Consonants
5 Register and Dialect
PART II: Vocal Repertoire
6 An Introduction to Welsh Music History
7 Traditional Songs, Hymns, and Patriotic Songs
8 Yr Hen Ganiadau
9 David Vaughan Thomas and W. Bradwen Jones
10 Morfydd Owen
11 Grace Williams
12 Mansel Thomas
13 Meirion Williams
14 Dilys Elwyn-Edwards
15 Alun Hoddinott
16 William Mathias
17 Karl Jenkins
18 Contemporary Composers
Appendix I: Rubrics and Shorthands
Appendix II: How to Create an IPA Transcription
Appendix III: Repertoire Lists
Art Songs by Level
Choral Music by Level
Opera
Choral Music by Ensemble Type
Art Songs by Theme
Choral Music by Theme
Folk Song Arrangements
Appendix IV: Resources
Bibliography
Index
Biography
Rachel Schutz is an assistant professor of voice at Ithaca College. Originally from Cardiff, Wales, she holds a DMA in Vocal Performance from Stony Brook University and an MA in Linguistics from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. In addition to being a scholar of Welsh diction and vocal repertoire, she is an internationally recognized soprano and has performed around the world including at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall Boston, and with the Santa Fe Opera.
“This is a fascinating and in-depth analysis of how to perform and interpret Welsh choral music written in an extremely use-friendly way for the choral conductor, performer or general music enthusiast. With fascinating insights on the major Welsh choral composers and the new wave of leading Welsh composers, Rachel Schutz has created a book that not only fills an important and much need gap in the choral world, but also encourages all to engage with this powerful and evocative music. It’s essential reading for any choir enthusiast.”
—Paul Mealor LVO, composer and Professor, University of Aberdeen, UK
"Love, curiosity, devotion and expertise have served author Rachel Schutz beautifully in the writing of her comprehensive treasure trove Welsh Vocal Music: A Guide to Lyric Diction and Repertoire. This book speaks to the performing musician, the educator, the historian, and to all lovers of music and language. If, as a foreigner, Welsh language text once seemed too distant to be approached, Dr. Schutz’s expert guidance here is a revelation, opening doors to deeper awareness and appreciation of this profound world of musical expression."
—Dawn Upshaw, Musician and Educator
"This book is an invaluable guide to the formerly inaccessible musical heritage of Wales - a huge step forward for all scholars of song. Detailed discussions of an impressive number of vocal works by traditional, Victorian and contemporary Welsh composers are accompanied by excellent IPA presentations which will encourage and enable non-Welsh singers to perform this fascinating repertoire.:
—Graham Johnson OBE, British classical pianist and Lieder accompanist
