Lutgen Vocal Exercises

The aim of these vocalises is to render the voice sufficiently flexible and mellow to execute easily and elegantly the colorature and embellishments found in the works of our great composers. They are intended to be, for the singer, what Czerny’s School of Velocity is for the pianist.

Proceeding from the principle, that it is unpractical to practice a variety of difficult passages at the same time, I begin with exercises on two, three and four tones, then advancing progressively to more difficult exercises; leaving it to the teacher to transpose them a semitone higher or lower.

However, in order to avoid the monotony and lassitude which are almost inseparable from a strictly methodic course of study, I have endeavored to clothe my exercises in a musical and agreeable form; and have made them very short, to prevent overexertion of the voice.

Following its avowed purpose, this work contains no exercises for sustained tones; and it will suffice to sing daily a few long-sustained tones, before taking up these exercises.

The results obtained with this method, and its approbation by several of the highest musical authorities, justify my hope, that it will find a favorable reception.

B. Lütgen

Lütgen added a note on the second page of his edition: These vocal exercises may be gradually transposed a semitone higher or lower, without overpassing the natural limits of the voice.

This series of scores is intended to present these vocalises in many different keys. So, the students and pianists have not to transpose the lessons on the fly and may avoid by this way unnesserary errors. It is important for singers to know exactly what tone they are actually singing and these transposed versions give them the chance to do so. By that way, they also can train their reading capabilities in different tonalities.

In this set, every vocalise is presented:
1. by number
2. Key

Vocal Exercise Learning Tracks to help make the voice more flexible and mellow. Although originally intended for singers of the works of composers, they can be used by anyone who wishes to exercise the voice.