When Danes talk about Danish vocal music, we often refer to den danske sangskat or "the treasure of Danish songs" as a secluded gem, which cannot be performed by foreigners because of the difficulty of the Danish language. However, the days when a classical singer could get by mastering just three or four languages are over. The repertoire today is vast and varied, and it is expected that it is performed in the original language. Thus, a singer must be able to perform in multiple languages, and why should Danish not be one of them?
Eva Hess Thaysen, is associate professor of voice and head of studies as well as head of artistic research at The Royal Danish Academy of Music. She set out to make the Danish art song repertoire available to non-native singers, and Danish Diction in Art Song is a result of her research project.
The publication is the first comprehensive edition of Danish songs with IPA transcriptions written directly into the scores. The anthology thus makes the rich Danish art song repertoire available to the world.
Along with the publication, a digital media platform has been launched. This platform features instructional content on diction, coupled with musical recordings, providing users with a guided exploration of the diverse Danish art song repertoire.
Danish Diction in Art Song is edited by Eva Hess Thaysen, Ruben Schachtenhaufen, phonetician and academic staff at the University of Copenhagen, and Christen Stubbe Teglbjærg, pianist and vocal coach, associate professor at RDAM. The publication is supported by The Royal Danish Academy of Music, The Danish Ministry of Culture, and The A.P. Møller Foundation.
The anthology is the first publication in the new Edition·S Artistic Research Series in collaboration with RDAM.
The anthology can be purchased in an exclusive single-volume hardcover version as well as a soft cover version in three volumes:
Vol. 1: Selected songs by C.E.F. Weyse, I.P.E. Hartmann, Emma Hartmann, Niels W. Gade and Peter Heise
Vol. 2: Song cycles by Peter Heise: Gudruns Sorg, Farlige Drømme and Dyvekes sange
Vol. 3: Selected songs by P.E. Lange-Müller, Hilda Sehested, Carl Nielsen and Tekla Griebel Wandall
The publication of Danish Diction in Art Song is celebrated with a release event on Thursday 18 January at 16:00 in New Hall at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen.