JOS On Point

A Brief Survey of South African Art Song

Imported through its European heritage, the art song has found a place among South African composers. However, against the backdrop of its complicated history, South Africa’s art songs often seem to reflect themes of exile, inner struggle and nostalgia. In the November/December issue of the Journal of Singing “On Migration, Exile, and Cosmopolitanism: A Brief Survey of South African Art Song,” author Nico de Villiers explores how these themes resonate through South Africa’s complex history, and how they have subsequently been reflected in the genre of art song, with specific reference to songs by six prominent South African composers.

JOS-080-2-2023-145.pdf (application/pdf, 1185.5 K) posted at 2:47 PM, October 31, 2023

A Cornucopia of Media Offerings

The “Listener’s Gallery” column in the Journal of Singing (a JOS Staple since 2001) has been renamed “The Media Gallery.” Longtime associate editor Gregory Berg’s astute reviews of recordings now includes video and streaming services as well. Berg’s November/December column features his in-depth review of “BroadwayHD,” an on-demand digital streaming service that distributes musicals, spoken plays, concerts, and documentaries. Berg extols the incalculable virtues of learning from the practitioners of both sung and spoken theater, because “as singers and teachers of singing, we are engaged in one of the most profound acts of communication.” Readers should also check out Berg’s September/October review of the “Royal Opera House Stream.”

JOS-080-2-2023-243.pdf (application/pdf, 874.5 K) posted at 1:13 PM, October 31, 2023

A Time To . . .

In his Editor’s Commentary entitled “A Time To . . .,” published in the May/June issue of the Journal of Singing, Editor in Chief Richard Dale Sjoerdsma announced his intent to relinquish that position at the end of the 2022-23 publication cycle. At that point, Dr. Sjoerdsma, only the seventh full time editor in the journal’s 80 year history, will have served 22 years at the helm of the distinguished peer reviewed periodical, official organ of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. A search has been launched to fill the position, and interested persons may find a job description, applicant requirements, and directions for application at NATS.org under “Job Center.”

JOS_078_5_2022_555.pdf (application/pdf, 696.3 K) posted at 11:29 AM, May 9, 2022

Against the Wind: Singers Growing Old

Singers grow old, and they must grapple with accommodating to changes in voice and anxiety about continued ability to perform. JoAnna E. Sloggy and Graham D. Rowles, in their article “Against the Wind: Singers Growing Old,” published in the May/June 2019 issue of “Journal of Singing,” discuss aging in prominent rock stars past and present. In the light of unrealistic audience expectations that hold them to standards of their youth, these iconic personalities face difficult challenges and decisions that they discuss in their own words.

JOS-075-5-2019-535_-_Against_the_Wind_-_Sloggy_-_Rowles.pdf (application/pdf, 335.6 K) posted at 9:31 AM, June 18, 2019

An Introduction to Vocal Fold Masses

Singing teachers often are first to recognize vocal problems and recommend medical evaluation. Several vocal masses can affect the professional voice, and it is important to understand the multifactorial contributions and pathogenesis of each to determine prognosis. In “An Introduction to Vocal Fold Masses,” published in the January/February issue of Journal of Singing, authors Vishnu V. Martha, Swetha Vontela, and Robert T. Sataloff identify causes and treatment for several vocal masses, recommending close collaboration between laryngologists, singing teachers, and other voice professionals.

JOS-079-3-2023-339.pdf (application/pdf, 1305.4 K) posted at 3:17 PM, January 6, 2023

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