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CONCEPTS OF DICTION 209
only a vowel can sustain a full vocal tone; b) a consonant is "an interruption of the sustained tone." [Douty 142]
Consonants as interrupters of rhythm: the "time spot" Rhythm is the accentual structure of music, based on the succession of beats or time units. (W) In singing, the time value of the rhythm is usually distributed among the syllabic vowel sounds contained in the words of a song. Thus, each vowel, because it is both vocal and prolongable, becomes a variable component of the rhythmical structure of the song. From the singer's standpoint, consonants, being interrupters of vocal tone, are also interrupters of rhythm. To overcome this rhythmical antagonism of the consonants, singers are warned to sound each vowel, regardless of its consonantal attachments, exactly on the time-spot; the time-spot being the exact moment that the musical note begins. Thus, the rhythm of the melodic line is always maintained. [Howe 284, p. 35] "The rule is very simple," says Scott. "Consonants should be sounded before the beat; vowels on the beat." [501, p. 106] Young believes that, at the beginning of a word that starts with sounds like hr, cl, th, s, f, consonants "should actually precede the musical accent" so that the time-spot may be accurately struck by the vowel. [698] Benedict advises the singer to break the phrase unit with the consonant sound, rather than on the vowel so that the imperceptible phrasing pauses may not detract from the time values of vowel sounds which begin or end the phrase. In other words, "commence exactly on the time of the note instead of slightly before," for words beginning with consonants. [44] Henschel also insists that consonants must be sung on the note of the syllable to which the consonant belongs. [268]
Exaggeration as a device. Exaggeration is defined as a process of extravagant delineation of action. (W) In diction, exaggeration is a means of overstressing or accentuating the value of a sound by making it abnormally prominent in the word in which it appears. Exaggeration is suggested as a device for improving diction in singing, Jeffries claims that the best method of improving diction for song is "to read aloud, exaggerating all consonants, till distinctness becomes habitual," [301] Stanley advises that "all consonants should be articulated with great vigor and extreme rapidity" as an exercise for singers. [578] Finally, Novello-Davies offers this suggestion: In training the singing voice, "vowels should be quickly threaded, not jerked, on to exaggerated consonants. Correct placement will inevitably result." She adds that the exaggeration of consonants in word practice "gives strength, grace and facility in singing," and that the greatest Italian artists, including Caruso, always stressed the consonants. |
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