The Importance of Diction in the Art of Singing

Abstract

The idea for this article’s subject started from the importance of diction that accompanies the music. It’s essential to be able to understand very well the words that are sung, because they give the “tone” of the entire lyrical-dramatical action. The listeners will perceive the emotion that is conveyed through the verses, and the music, as a unity. I have listened to various interpretations of singers that approached arias, leads, etc, who don’t have good diction, therefore in their musical discourse I could hear the predominance of the vowels A - E - O - U, and I could barely hear the consonants. This way, instead of following the lyrical-dramatic action itself, brought by the music and the words, I was experiencing auditory discomfort. In order to bring their own interpretation to the musical language, and to express mastery, the artist must have theoretical knowledge, and technical training and use them precisely. This way they would be able to reach high performances of the vocal tract, which will lead to the harmonious delineation of a singing style that matches the demands of the musical piece.