Is it appropriate to add extra embellishments/ornaments/coloratura to a 17th/18th Centrury Italian aria?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 3:02pm

Particularly Nina (attributed to Pergolesi) and O Cessate di Piagarmi. You'd think it would be, yet I've never heard it done before.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 3:03pm

Oops, should be on OT board, and I spelled Century wrong.

[Steph_DeVo]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 10:26pm

It is appropriate the last time through a chorus or during a repeat of the piece....as long as the embellishments are appropriate to the time period....

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 10:34pm

Yea, so don't Mariah it...

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 10:58pm

I am a vocal performance major with an emphasis in Dramatic Opera and Musical Theatre, and yes it is appropiate if and only if you add embellishments that one remain true to the piece itself and secondly if the ornaments are the type you would have heard during that time period. No one wants to hear an updated version of these types of pieces but if you add to emphasis a part, show off you talent at the end of the piece, go for it as long as it remains true to the time period. No on wants to hear a punch of Britney Spears run at the end of a song. Good luck!

[singingwendy]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 11:41pm

What arrangements of these songs are you using? Are you using the traditional 24 Italian Songs and Arias with the yellow cover? Or are you using the updated 26 Italian Arias with the purple or blue cover? If you're using the newer one, they have suggested ornamentation written in for each song. ( It drives me crazy trying to use the book to teach my students "Caro Mio Ben" because there is so much ornamentation added in small notes to the original tune!)

So...if you're not using the updated version, I'd suggest getting a copy of it!

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 11:42pm

Thanks, guys! That's what I thought (and read was the common practice during the period), but I just have never heard it done.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 11:46pm

I use the old Schirmer's yellow-covered one. I'll make sure to look for the new one, though!

The reason I'm asking is that I have conservatory auditions coming up, and I want to impress the auditors with my (supposedly rare for a bass-baritone) coloratura skills.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 12/23/06 at 11:51pm

Here:

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?cart=33759065664297216&item=3520909


I'd highly reccommend it. They've cleaned up the accompaniments and made them less Romantic and more sparse and original sounding. It's got everything from the Schirmer, plus two more!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 7:19am

From a purely conceptual point of view, these songs were written *specifically* for the singer to show off his/her skills at ornamentation. Look at the score as a paint-by-number drawing that still needs the colour to make it work, then -- as others have pointed out -- as long as you dont go Mariah (or, as I prefer to think, American Idol) on it (I swear, singers on that show maneuver *around* the note instead of actually hitting it) and stay within the period, go for it.

*But* remember that the whole point of ornamentation is showing off what *you* can bring to the table, so make it your own and run wild with it. Good luck.