KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
MUS 191
ITALIAN LYRIC DICTION FOR SINGERS
Approved by Department: February 5, 2008
I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a study in the correct manner of singing Italian lyric diction. Students are
introduced to the International Phonetic Alphabet as a means for studying the language. The
course is designed to be taken by voice students who are concurrently enrolled in applied voice
Prerequisite: MUP 239 Applied Voice
1 semester hour
2 clock hours
II. COURSE RATIONALE
The student, singer, or teacher of singers must be able to pronounce and sing Italian texts with
linguistic accuracy. This course provides the student with a facility in Italian lyric diction with
an interest in a fluent, clear and articulate performance of assigned repertoire. It is essential for
any singer to be able to pronounce/sing Italian texts correctly, understandably, with clarity, and
with as little regional accent as possible.
III. COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Phoneticize and prepare texts from Italian art songs.
2. Accurately form sounds of the Italian language for singing.
3. Enunciate lyrics from Italian art song literature.
4. Identify the correct sounds of singing Italian.
IV. ASSESSMENT
Assessment of each student’s level of accomplishment with reference to the course objectives
will be based upon a subset of the following:
1. Demonstration of proficiency with the IPA.
2. Transcription and enunciation of Italian vocal literature.
3. Written exams, quizzes and assignments.
4. Performance assignments.
V. COURSE OUTLINE
1. International Phonetic Alphabet applied to English and Italian.
2. Syllabification
a. Single consonant
b. Two Consonants
c. Three Consonants
d. Consecutive Vowels
3. Stressing
a. Rules for Stressing
b. Double Consonants
4. Italian Vowels
a. Front Vowels
b. Back Vowels
b. Closed and open {e} and {o}
5. Italian Consonants
a. Dental Consonants
b. Voiced Plosive Consonants
c. Voiceless Plosive Consonants
6. Italian Glides (semiconsonants)
7. Enya, Elya and Eng
8. Pronouncing Consecutive Vowels
a. Diphthongs
b. Glides
c. Triphthongs
9. Rule for silent {i}
10. Apocopation and Elision
11. Flipped and Trilled [r]
12. Diacritical marks
VI. Instructional Resources
Adler, Kurt. Phonetics and Diction in Singing. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis,
MN 1965
Colorni, Evelina. Singer’s Italian. G. Schirmer, Inc., New York 1970.
Jones, Archie; Smit, M. Irving; and Walls, Robert E. Hip Pockets Pronouncing Guide to Italian.
Carl Fischer, New York 2002.
Love, Catherine E. Webster’s New World Italian Dictionary. Macmillan, New York 1992.
Melzi, Robert C. The Bantam New College Italian and English Dictionary. Bantam Books,
New York, 1980.
Montgomery, Cheri. Italian Lyric Diction Workbook. S.T.M. Publishers, Nashville, TN 2006
Moriarty, John. Diction. E.C. Schirmer Music Co., Boston, MA 1975.
Paton, John Glenn, ed. Gateway to Italian Art Songs. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc., Van Nuys, CA
2004.
Paton, John Glenn, ed. Twenty-Six Italian Songs and Arias. Alfred Publishing Co. Inc., Van
Nuys, CA 1996.
Penhorwood, Edwin, ed. Twelve Ariettas by Vincenzo Righini. Southern Music Company,
Texas 2002.
__________,Twenty-Four Italian Songs and Arias. G. Schirmer, Inc., distributed by Hal
Leonard Corporation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1948.
Wall, Joan; Robert Caldwell; Tracy Gavilanes; and Sheila Allen. Diction for Singers.
Pst…Inc., Dallas, Texas 1990.
Wall, Joan. International Phonetic Alphabet for Singers. Pst…Inc., Dallas, Texas 1989.