BETWEEN THE CORDS
for two mezzo sopranos, or mezzo-soprano and viola
1993
duration: 14'

This piece was premiered at the Manhattan School of Music in New York/USA. The singers were Beth Clayton and Carol To. The text in this piece was taken from the book “Hints on Singing” by Manuel P.R. Garcia, who was published in 1894. Manuel P.R. Garcia (* 1805 Madrid; English: 1906 London) was a baritone and singing-teacher. He studied singing with his father Manuel del Popolo V.R. Garcia, who was a widely recognized tenor, composer and teacher. Manuel P.R. Garcia already retired from stage in 1829 and subsequently worked in military hospitals in France. There he thoroughly studied the physiological aspects of the voice which helped him to a deeper understanding of singing techniques. Based on this knowledge he brought his fathers teaching methods to a perfection. He wrote several books on singing that remained a standard work for many years. His school on singing was thus the first one that received international recognition over a long period of time. He was first professor at the Paris Conservatory and later at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he spent his latter half of his life. The text: How to prepare for emitting the voice? By giving attention to the position of the body, the separation of the jaws, the shape of the throat and the breathing. The body must be straight, well planted on the feet, and without any other support; the shoulders well back, the head erect, the expression of the face calm.

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