Practical Method of Italian Singing

This new edition of Vaccaj’s Method is based on two manuscripts in Vaccaj’s own hand, marked and dated on the last page “Originale di N.Vaccaj Londra 1833”, which are in the Biblioteca Comunale Filelfica of Tolentino (reference Mus.Ms.V.d.1 and 2). One of the two copies, consisting of 22 sheets, contains both the Italian and English version of the Lessons and was probably used for the first edition of the Method, printed in London at the author’s expense in 183418. The second copy, consisting of 19 sheets, bears only the Italian commentary, with the subsequent addition of the French translation glued to the book on separate sheets of paper. It was probably used for the Milan edition of 183719.

There are no definite elements to indicate which of the two autograph manuscripts should be considered the earliest, as indeed they are essentially identical. Some slight variations in the second manuscript, regarding phrase legature and accents (as in Lesson 2, bars 7-12) or movement indication (Lesson 12: Moderato instead of Allegro Moderato), appear to be revisions, and they have been accepted as such in our edition. Neither of the two manuscripts contains the preface «The Author’s Object of this Practical Method», which therefore has been resumed from the 1834 edition.

Since Vaccaj’s autograph drafting is clear and accurate, our revision has been limited to correct the few oversights of the original, improve in some parts the arrangement of the piano accompaniment, complete the indications omitted in repetitions and adapt the accidentals to the modern convention. All significant additions or corrections have been placed in square brackets. The original commentary in Italian and English have been printed in italic, whereas the editor’s comments appear in normal character.

The collation of the autograph sources has permitted to correct the numerous inaccuracies which passed from the early editions to the most recent reprints, where eventually new mistakes by copyist and engraver have accumulated. The volume includes also the 12 Exercises and the 24 Cadenze which are not in the manuscripts but were published for the first time in 1837, in a separate brochure by Boosey & Co in London, as Appendix,/ to/ N.Vaccaj’s Practical Method/ of/ Italian Singing20, and subsequently incorporated in the second English edition of the Method21.  The texts of Metastasio’s arias set in music by Vaccaj are reprinted here as they appear in the manuscript, with all the cuts and lapsus of the composer. The complete texts, on the basis of Metastasio’s Collected Works edited by Bruno Brunelli22, are given as a reference on pages XV