Thirty-six Vocalises in Modern Style (Spicker): Mezzo Soprano or Baritone Voice Book

These vocalises strike an uncommon balance between technical rigor and genuine musicality. Unlike exercises that feel purely mechanical, Bordogni's work for mezzo soprano and baritone voices maintains melodic interest throughout, making daily practice feel like singing real music rather than drilling patterns. The collection gives these voices the serious pedagogical resource they deserve.

Singing Bordogni feels like sculpting tone. Each vocalise combines flowing, singable melody with technical challenges that demand focus and control without sounding artificial. There's a clarity and elegance to the writing that makes singers feel capable while pushing them past their current limits.

Mezzo soprano and baritone students preparing for auditions, competitions, or advanced vocal technique study will find these exercises essential for building secure passaggio transitions and extended range. Voice teachers seeking substantial, historically grounded material for intermediate to advanced singers will appreciate the depth and musicality of this comprehensive collection.

• Connect each phrase as you would in an art song, resisting the temptation to treat vocalises as disconnected technical drills.
• Pay attention to Bordogni's dynamic markings and tempo indications; they guide interpretation and prevent monotonous delivery.
• Use a neutral syllable (ah, oh, or eh) consistently throughout, adjusting vowel color only when the score specifies otherwise.
• Work through the collection in order rather than jumping to advanced pieces; each vocalise builds on problems solved in earlier studies.

These vocalises live in the practice studio rather than the concert hall, making them ideal for voice students preparing for recitals or performances of more substantial repertoire. A voice teacher might assign one or two from the collection as warm-up material before coaching standard art song or opera repertoire.

• Legato line singing across the passaggio
• Breath control over extended phrases
• Accurate intonation in wide intervallic leaps
• Evenness of tone across the full range
• Stylistic awareness in the Romantic vocal idiom
• Technical fluency with rapid note patterns and scalar passages