Croatian Lyric Diction for Singers: An Exploration through Performance of Selected Works (1833 – 1933): A Portfolio of Recorded Performances and Exegesis

Abstract

This study investigates how an understanding of Croatian lyric diction can contribute to the preparation of songs in Croatian by a performer who is a native English-speaker. More specifically, it establishes a system of phonetic transcription for Croatian based on a combination of the International Phonetic Alphabet and a transcription system derived from the well-established Russian lyric diction developed by Dr. Anton Belov. It then applies this system to performances of operatic works and art songs dating from 1833 to 1933. Repertoire in Croatian by Vastroslav Lisinski, Ivan Zajc, Josip Hatze and Jakov Gotovac, and ones in Russian by such composers as Mikhail Glinka, Piotr Illich Tchaikovsky, Alexander Borodin and Sergei Rachmaninoff are presented to differentiate the lyric diction of both languages while using a similar system of phonetic transcription. The results of the investigation are presented as recordings of recitals (120 minutes) accompanied by a 7,500 word exegesis.