Thesis--Musicology--Cambridge (Mass.)--Harvard univ., 1996. / Bibliogr. p. 418-430.

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University Bibliography:

Uppsatsen avser att undersöka hur den Italienska och den Italiensk-Amerikanska maffian gestaltas inom det moderna film och tv-mediet. Undersökningen baseras på den Amerikanska dramaserien Sopranos(David Chase, 1999-2007) och den Italienska filmen Gomorrah(Matteo Garrone, 2008). Teoretiska utgångspunkter för uppsatsen är politisk filosofi (Macchiavelli, Hobbes), Pierre Bourdieus habitus begrepp, ideologikritik, cultural studies och socialpsykologi. Slutsatsen visar en tydlig skillnad mellan de olika filmtexterna vad gäller såväl narrativ, ideologiska aspekter och psykologiskt orienterad människosyn, samt reflekterar över maffiafilmers roll utifrån en populärkulturell kontext.

This study documents the musical life of Zinka Milanov, a distinguished Metropolitan Opera dramatic soprano who lived from 1906 to 1989. In this writer's opinion, the Yugoslavian-born singer ranks with Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi in accomplishments and legacy, although her acclaim has been less notable.This study reveals that Milanov had a distinguished Metropolitan Opera career, leaves a legacy of 226 recordings with unsurpassable high-register pianissimo spinning tones and elegant phrasing, was supported by a fan club and by sold-out opera houses, and maintained an active career on three continents.This writer shares a similar Eastern European heritage with Milanov and was inspired by a former voice teacher to listen to legendary Milanov recordings while learning the spinto-dramatic soprano repertory. Milanov's artistry on these recordings demonstrates a bel canto style of singing which aspiring vocal artists may well strive to emulate. For these reasons, and because no previous complete study exists about Zinka Milanov's life and career, this research is a unique chronological document of Milanov's operatic career.In 1995, this researcher was granted access to The Metropolitan Opera Archives to collect data. Information on Milanov's musical career from scrapbooks, articles, reviews, interviews, photographs, contracts, fan club newsletters, personal letters and telegrams, is presented in chapter three.This research provides summaries and discussion of each Metropolitan Opera season; it includes the number of Metropolitan Opera performances, opera titles, names of cast members and conductors, and Milanov's salary. A complete listing of recordings of Milanov's performances is provided in Appendices 1 and 2. Historic photographs of Milanov in various operatic roles are found throughout this study.Chapter four contains this writer's insights on Milanov's vocal technique. Teachers of voice may be interested in learning her method. / School of Music

The Sopranos is often hailed as one of the greatest television series of all time. The groundbreaking HBO series had an immense impact as a cultural phenomenon, showcasing the entrenched problems of post-industrial America. The protagonist, Mafia boss, patriarch, son, and husband Tony Soprano, embodies the anxieties and struggles of our age. Through Tony Soprano’s internal turmoil and therapy visits we are able to see the character’s existential and nihilistic conflicts while he tries to search for self and meaning in his life. The success of the program demonstrated that amorality could succeed on television and led to programs such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Dexter, and other shows that had a commitment to realism and challenged the viewers by avoiding the formulaic programs of earlier years. Rather than being repulsed by Tony’s amoral criminal actions, viewers become seduced by his battles, charms, moral questions and difficulties, which results in them actually rooting for the violent gangster. In my paper I discussed the cultural implications of how viewers identify and excuse the violence and criminality of a brutal Mob boss, in terms of the knowledge of violence that is excused, accepted, rooted for, and tried to be forgotten in American society. Why would a program about anti-heroes become a huge hit with viewers rooting for an ethically confounding character? I will also argue that Tony’s dissolution, anxieties and unhappiness mirror the sentiments and realities of Americans in the twenty-first century.

The purpose of this study is to give some insight into the soprano role in Hgndel's operas in comparison to the other roles. From a total of forty operas written, thirty-eight have been published and will be considered in this thesis. There is a complete analysis of each soprano role, but only a few outstanding arias are discussed in detail. The study of the soprano role is preceded by a chapter on Handel's career, styles,and his operas today.

INTRODUÇÃO: as possibilidades de inspeção acústica de dados, assim como suas correlações com aspectos perceptivos e fisiológicos, favorecem a análise do comportamento vocal. Na voz cantada tem-se características específicas de todos os parâmetros envolvidos durante o mecanismo de fonação sendo possível analisá-los acusticamente. OBJETIVO: descrever e analisar a frequência fundamental e formantes na variação tonal na vogal /a/ em sopranos. MÉTODOS: a amostra foi composta por 30 participantes do sexo feminino sem queixa vocal na faixa etária de 20 a 45 anos. Todas as emissões foram gravadas com a vogal /a/ sustentada durante cinco segundos com três repetições na frequência grave (C3 - 261 Hz), média (Eb4 - 622 Hz) e aguda (Bb4 - 932 Hz) confortável para classificação vocal. No total foram analisadas 90 amostras com extração digital da frequência fundamental (f0) e dos cinco primeiros formantes (F1,F2,F3,F4 e F5) e confirmação manual. Para análise estatística foi aplicado o teste de aderência Shapiro-Wilks e o teste de Friedmann para comparação de amostras pareadas. RESULTADOS: nas emissões em tons grave e médio, foram observados maiores valores nas frequências dos cinco primeiros formantes em relação ao valor de f0. Observou-se aproximação entre F1 e F2 nas duas tonalidades, com aglomerado de harmônicos na região de F3, F4 e F5 no tom grave e aproximação entre F3 e F4, pico em F5 e sintonia de harmônicos no tom médio. No entanto, na emissão em tom agudo, observou-se aumento dos valores de F2, F3, F4 e F5 em relação à f0, bem como a aproximação entre eles, além de sintonia entre f0 e F1, H2 e F2, H3 e F3, H4 e F4, e H5 e F5. CONCLUSÃO: as mudanças de tonalidade mostram diferenças no comportamento da frequência fundamental e dos formantes do som em sopranos. A comparação das emissões em f0 nas três tonalidades mostra modificações específicas do trato vocal harmônicos, com faixa de ganho extra em 261 Hz, sintonia entre picos de formantes e harmônicos em 622 Hz e equiparação de f0 e F1 em 932 Hz / INTRODUCTION: the possibilities of acoustic investigation of data and the correlation between perceptive and physiological trends, support general analysis of vocal behavior. In singing, we have specific characteristics from all of the parameters involved in the phonation mechanism and they can be acoustically analyzed. AIM: describe fundamental frequency and formants during articulation of the vowel /a/ in sopranos. METHOD: 30 healthy trained sopranos aged 20-45 were recorded singing with the sustained vowel /a/ during five seconds in three frequencies: low (C4 - 261 Hz), mid (Eb5 - 622 Hz) and high (Bb5 - 932 Hz). They also made three repetitions comfortably for the vocal classification. 90 samples were analyzed using automatic extraction from the fundamental frequency (f0) and the five primary formants (F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5) as well as manual confirmation. For statistical analysis, the Shapiro-Wilks adherence test and Friedmann test for paired samples were considered. RESULTS: in the low phonation frequency, all formants F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 were higher than (f0). In the mid-frequency each one of the five formants were higher than (f0). However, in high frequency, the first formant was equated with f0 whereas F2, F3, F4 and F5 were increased. In comparison with (f0) and (F1), the synchrony between f0 and F1, H2 and F2, H3 and F3, H4 and F4 and H5 and F5 was also noticed. CONCLUSION: the pitch changes have shown differences in formant and fundamental frequency behavior in sopranos. The comparison between the three tunes showed us specific vocal tract adaptation for singing observed by harmonics with extra band gain, in 261 Hz, 622Hz and the equalization of F1=f0 in 932 Hz

INTRODUÇÃO: as possibilidades de inspeção acústica de dados, assim como suas correlações com aspectos perceptivos e fisiológicos, favorecem a análise do comportamento vocal. Na voz cantada tem-se características específicas de todos os parâmetros envolvidos durante o mecanismo de fonação sendo possível analisá-los acusticamente. OBJETIVO: descrever e analisar a frequência fundamental e formantes na variação tonal na vogal /a/ em sopranos. MÉTODOS: a amostra foi composta por 30 participantes do sexo feminino sem queixa vocal na faixa etária de 20 a 45 anos. Todas as emissões foram gravadas com a vogal /a/ sustentada durante cinco segundos com três repetições na frequência grave (C3 - 261 Hz), média (Eb4 - 622 Hz) e aguda (Bb4 - 932 Hz) confortável para classificação vocal. No total foram analisadas 90 amostras com extração digital da frequência fundamental (f0) e dos cinco primeiros formantes (F1,F2,F3,F4 e F5) e confirmação manual. Para análise estatística foi aplicado o teste de aderência Shapiro-Wilks e o teste de Friedmann para comparação de amostras pareadas. RESULTADOS: nas emissões em tons grave e médio, foram observados maiores valores nas frequências dos cinco primeiros formantes em relação ao valor de f0. Observou-se aproximação entre F1 e F2 nas duas tonalidades, com aglomerado de harmônicos na região de F3, F4 e F5 no tom grave e aproximação entre F3 e F4, pico em F5 e sintonia de harmônicos no tom médio. No entanto, na emissão em tom agudo, observou-se aumento dos valores de F2, F3, F4 e F5 em relação à f0, bem como a aproximação entre eles, além de sintonia entre f0 e F1, H2 e F2, H3 e F3, H4 e F4, e H5 e F5. CONCLUSÃO: as mudanças de tonalidade mostram diferenças no comportamento da frequência fundamental e dos formantes do som em sopranos. A comparação das emissões em f0 nas três tonalidades mostra modificações específicas do trato vocal harmônicos, com faixa de ganho extra em 261 Hz, sintonia entre picos de formantes e harmônicos em 622 Hz e equiparação de f0 e F1 em 932 Hz / INTRODUCTION: the possibilities of acoustic investigation of data and the correlation between perceptive and physiological trends, support general analysis of vocal behavior. In singing, we have specific characteristics from all of the parameters involved in the phonation mechanism and they can be acoustically analyzed. AIM: describe fundamental frequency and formants during articulation of the vowel /a/ in sopranos. METHOD: 30 healthy trained sopranos aged 20-45 were recorded singing with the sustained vowel /a/ during five seconds in three frequencies: low (C4 - 261 Hz), mid (Eb5 - 622 Hz) and high (Bb5 - 932 Hz). They also made three repetitions comfortably for the vocal classification. 90 samples were analyzed using automatic extraction from the fundamental frequency (f0) and the five primary formants (F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5) as well as manual confirmation. For statistical analysis, the Shapiro-Wilks adherence test and Friedmann test for paired samples were considered. RESULTS: in the low phonation frequency, all formants F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 were higher than (f0). In the mid-frequency each one of the five formants were higher than (f0). However, in high frequency, the first formant was equated with f0 whereas F2, F3, F4 and F5 were increased. In comparison with (f0) and (F1), the synchrony between f0 and F1, H2 and F2, H3 and F3, H4 and F4 and H5 and F5 was also noticed. CONCLUSION: the pitch changes have shown differences in formant and fundamental frequency behavior in sopranos. The comparison between the three tunes showed us specific vocal tract adaptation for singing observed by harmonics with extra band gain, in 261 Hz, 622Hz and the equalization of F1=f0 in 932 Hz

Thesis (M. Mus.)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Who is Nellie du Toit and what is the extent of her career as singer and voice teacher? The void in South African historiography in respect to the life and work of South African performing artists gave rise to investigate the career of Nellie du Toit. Known as one of South Africa’s most illustrious opera singers of the 1960’s and 1970’s, who made her career exclusively in South Africa, she is regarded as one of the most sought after voice teachers. Her career as singer spanned almost three decades. As voice teacher her career of over forty years is still ongoing. This study traces her biographical details chronologically beginning with her youth years in a very musical family. Her full-time music studies took place at the South African College of Music in Cape Town, from 1950 to 1952. Here her singing teacher Madame Adelheid Armhold and Gregorio Fiasconaro, head of the Opera School, were influential in laying the foundations for her career. After a period of over a year in England Du Toit was one of several young South African singers to contribute to pioneering opera in South Africa, often sung in the vernacular. Du Toit sang in forty-five opera seasons for the Provincial Arts Councils in the seventeen years between 1963 and 1979, when her opera career ended. In 1986 she returned to the opera stage as the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss. This was also her final farewell as opera singer. The title role in Madama Butterfly can be regarded as her hallmark. Her stunning portrayal of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor was regarded as a mile stone in South African opera history, as was her interpretation of Jenůfa. She was also hailed as a Mozart singer. Not only was she regarded as one of the world’s best “Butterflies” at the International Madame Butterfly Competition in Japan in 1970, but has she also been awarded three Nederburg Opera Prizes. Apart from opera, Du Toit gave numerous recitals of classical and light classical music, regularly sang in orchestral concerts and oratorio and was active as broadcasting artist. Her work as voice teacher always ran parallel to her singing activities. Her academic career at the Universities at Stellenbosch and Cape Town spanned fourteen years: from 1980 to 1993. Nellie du Toit’s achievements in music were laureated with the Medal of Honour from the Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1986 and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stellenbosch in 1998. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wie is Nellie du Toit en wat is die omvang van haar loopbaan as sangeres en sangpedagoog? Die leemte in Suid-Afrikaanse historiografie met betrekking tot die lewe en werk van Suid- Afrikaanse uitvoerende kunstenaars het aanleiding gegee tot hierdie ondersoek na die loopbaan van Nellie du Toit. Bekend as een van Suid Afrika se vermaarde operasangeresse van die 1960’s en 1970’s wat haar loopbaan eksklusief in Suid-Afrika gemaak het, word sy ook beskou as een van die mees gesogte sangpedagoë. Haar loopbaan as uitvoerende kunstenaar het oor byna drie dekades gestrek. Haar loopbaan as sangpedagoog, ná meer as veertig jaar, gaan steeds voort. Hierdie studie ondersoek haar lewe en loopbaan chronologies, beginnende met haar jeugjare in ʼn baie musikale gesin. Haar voltydse musiekstudies aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Musiekkollege in Kaapstad het van 1950 tot 1952 geduur. Hier het Madame Adelheid Armhold, haar sangpedagoog, en Gregorio Fiasconaro, hoof van die Operaskool, ʼn stewige fondament vir haar loopbaan gelê. Na ʼn tydperk van meer as ʼn jaar in Engeland, het Nellie du Toit een van die jong Suid-Afrikaanse sangers geword wat operabaanbrekerswerk in Suid-Afrika gedoen het. Du Toit het in vyf-en-veertig operaseisoene vir die Uitvoerende Kunsterade gesing in die sewentien jaar tussen 1963 en 1979, die jaar waarin haar operaloopbaan tot ʼn einde gekom het. In 1986 het sy na die operaverhoog teruggekeer in die rol van die Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier van Richard Strauss. Dit was ook haar finale vaarwel as operasangeres. Die titelrol in Madama Butterfly kan as Du Toit se kenteken beskou word. Haar merkwaardige uitbeelding van Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor is beskou as ʼn mylpaal in die Suid-Afrikaanse operageskiedenis. Dit geld ook vir haar vertolking van Jenůfa. Sy was ook hoog aangeskryf as Mozart-sangeres. Nellie du Toit is as een van die wêreld se beste “Butterflies” aangewys tydens die Internasionale Madame Butterfly Kompetisie in Japan in 1970. Daarbenewens het sy in Suid-Afrika drie Nederburg Operapryse ingepalm. Afgesien van opera het Nellie du Toit talryke uitvoerings van klassieke en ligte klassieke musiek gegee en gereeld in orkeskonserte, oratoria en as uitsaaikunstenaar opgetree. Naas haar loopbaan as uitvoerder het haar aktiwiteite as sangpedagoog byna ononderbroke voortgegaan. Haar akademiese loopbaan aan die Universiteite van Stellenbosch en Kaapstad het oor veertien jaar gestrek: van 1980 tot 1993. Nellie du Toit se prestasies in musiek is bekroon met die Erepenning van die Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns in 1986 en ʼn eredoktorsgraad van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch in 1998.

Vocal Health and Repertoire for the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano: A Suggested Course of Study brings together the fields of vocal pedagogy and performance. This curriculum guide focuses on repertoire for the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano, ages 18-30. The guide includes selections from the genres of art song (beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels), opera and oratorio arias, concert works, and song cycles. Selected art songs and arias are presented from a vocal health perspective, using McKinney’s eight principles of Good Vocal Sound. In addition, the Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance model is integrated via the identification of a focus skill for each song or aria. This suggested course of study emphasizes proper vocal technique and offers suggestions when studying and singing the larger works of the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano repertoire. These suggestions include recommendations gleaned from interviews with well-known mezzo-sopranos Mignon Dunn and Dolora Zajick concerning their opinions regarding repertoire, vocal health, and appropriate song and aria assignments for the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano. The guide also includes insights into training methods for today’s young dramatic voices based on observations of The Institute for Young Dramatic Voices. Key outcomes and implications are that Dramatic Mezzo-Sopranos must take the time to develop their voices before singing the more advanced arias of the standard repertoire, such as those by Verdi and Wagner, and this can be done through the study of art song. Further, Dramatic Mezzo-Sopranos must be strong technically in their approach to singing to help ensure vocal health and to avoid excessive strain on the vocal folds at all times. Dramatic Mezzo-Sopranos must also have strong skills in musicianship and performance in order to meet the demands of the repertoire for this voice type. The information presented in this curriculum guide will assist both voice teachers and performers in the teaching and singing of repertoire for the Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano. / Review of literature -- Design and method -- Mignon Dunn, Dolora Zajick and the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices -- Curriculum guide -- Summary and recommendations. / School of Music