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Music 263/264: Lyric Diction

Research Guide for Lyric Diction

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Research and Instruction Librarian for Music & Fine Arts

she/her/hers

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Contact:

Christiansen Hall of Music 147 (Music Library)
& Rolvaag Library 306

507-786-3362

Subjects: Art and Art History, Dance, Music, Theater

IPA Source

Your go-to resource for diction questions is IPA Source.

IPA Source
International Phonetic Alphabet transcriptions and literal translations of opera arias, art songs, and Latin sacred texts.

Dictionaries

Collins English Dictionary
Available online.
The Oxford English Dictionary
Available online.

Resources About Diction

Books about diction are filed under call numbers beginning MT883. Here are some recommended books about English diction.

Singing and Communicating in English
Call Number: MT833 .L13 2007

Available online or in print.
English and German Diction for Singers
Call Number: MT883 .J64 2016

Available in print or online.
The Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet in the Choral Rehearsal
Call Number: MT875 .U74 2012

Available in print and online. Includes chapters on a wide variety of global languages.

Online Resources

Pronouncing Dictionary of Music and Musicians
From Iowa Public Radio, a pronunciation guide for English speakers of over 30,000 names , titles, and musical terms. Does not use IPA.
Cambridge Dictionary
Online bilingual dictionaries between multiple languages and English.