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Vowels (17 sounds)

Symbol Spelling Spoken form Note
[i] bee [bi]
[ɪ] pity ['pɪtɪ]
[e] rate [ret]
[ɛ] yet [jɛt]
[æ] sang [sæŋ]
[a] bath [baθ] hear in the East: between [æ] (sang) and [ɑ] (ah)
[ɑ] ah
far
[ɑ]
[fɑr]
[ɒ] watch [wɒtʃ] between [ɑ] (ah) and [ɔ] (jaw)
[ɔ] jaw gorge [dʒɔ]
[gɔrdʒ]
[o] go [go]
[ʊ] full [fʊl]
[u] tooth [tuθ]
[ɜr] further ['fɜrðər] accented only, r's sounded
[ɜ] further ['fɜðə] accented only, r's silent
[ər] further ['fərðər] unaccented only, r's sounded
[ə] further ['fəðə] unaccented only, r's silent
[ʌ] custom
above
custom
above
['kʌstəm] [ə'bʌv] ['kʌstəm] [ə'bʌv]

Diphthongs (5 sounds)

Symbol Spelling Spoken form
[aɪ] while [hwaɪl]
[aʊ] how [haʊ]
[ɔɪ] toy [tɔɪ]
[ju] using
fuse
['juzɪŋ]
[fjuz]
[ɪu] fuse [fɪuz]

Consonants (... sounds)

Symbol Spelling Spoken form
[aɪ] while [hwaɪl]

Double consonants

Syntetic gemination (raddoppiamento sintattico)

Rules for r: 1. Never sing r before a consonant (no exceptions) 2. Do not sing r before a pause. 3. Always sing r before a vowel sound (no exceptions). This rule remains in effect when

r

rule for rolled r: any r that touches a consonant rolls, r's surrounded by vowels are only one flip. final r, when you have nothing left, you will roll the r, which has to do with the force of the sentiment.

n

n's that touch consonants also double. n before p or m = m n before v or f = ɱ

Open or closed vowel

on the non stressed part of the word, everything is always closed. Stressed syllables can be open or closed. Most of the time open, but you have to memorize them. In singing the consonants wait until the second note.

Texts and phonetics

A Midsummer Night's Dream - B. Britten

Act I

Scene II

I know a bank
I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses, and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania some time of the night,
Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight.

And there the snake throws her enameled skin,
Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in.
And with the juice of this I'll streak her eyes,
And make her full of hateful fantasies.
Take thou some of it, and seek through this grove;
A sweet Athenian lady is in love
with a disdainful youth.
Annoint his eyes, but do it when the next thing he espies
may be the lady.
Thou shalt know the man by the Athenian garments he hath on.
aɪ ˈnəʊ ə ˈbæŋk weə ðə waɪld ˈtaɪm bləʊz,
weə ˈɒkslɪps ænd ðə ˈnɒdɪŋ ˈvaɪəlɪt ɡrəʊz
kwaɪt ˌəʊvəˈkænəpɪd wɪð ˈlʌʃəs ˈwʊdbaɪn,
wɪð swiːt mʌsk ˈrəʊzɪz, ænd wɪð ˈeɡləntaɪn:
ðeə sliːps tɪˈtɑːnjə sʌm ˈtaɪm əv ðə naɪt,
ˈlʌld ɪn ðiːz ˈflaʊəz wɪð ˈdɑːnsɪz ænd dɪˈlaɪt.

ænd ðeər ðə sneɪk θrəʊz hə ɪˈneɪməld skɪn,
wiːd waɪd ɪˈnʌf tə ræp ə ˈfeərɪ ɪn.
ænd wɪð ðə dʒuːs əv ðɪs aɪl striːk hə aɪz,
ænd meɪk hə fʊl əv ˈheɪtfʊl fænˈtæzɪz.
teɪk ðaʊ sʌm əv ɪt, ænd siːk θruː ðɪs ɡrəʊv;
ə swiːt əˈθiːnɪən ˈleɪdɪ ɪz ɪn lʌv
wɪð ə dɪsˈdeɪnfʊl juːθ.
əˈnɔɪnt hɪz aɪz, bət duː ɪt wen ðə nekst θɪŋ hiː ɪsˈpaɪz
meɪ biː ðə ˈleɪdɪ.
ðaʊ ʃɑːlt nəʊ ðə mæn baɪ ðiː əˈθiːnɪən ˈɡɑːmənts hiː hæθ ɒn.

Messiah - G. F. Händel

Part the first

6. Air (Alto)

But who may abide the day of his coming
But who may abide
the day of His coming,
and who shall stand
when He appeareth?
For He is like
a refiner’s fire.
(Malachi 3:2)
Maar wie zal verdragen
de dag van Zijn komst
en wie zal blijven staan,
wanneer Hij verschijnt?
Want Hij zal zijn als
het vuur van de edelsmid.
(Malachi 3:2)
But who may abide
the day of His coming,
and who shall stand
when He appeareth?
For He is like
a refiner’s fire.
(Malachi 3:2)

8. Air and Chorus (Alto)

Recitativo.
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call His name Emmanuel, “God with us.”
(Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23)
Zie, de maagd zal zwanger worden en een Zoon baren,
en u zult Hem de Naam Immanuel geven; "God met ons."
(Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23)
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall call His name Emmanuel, “God with us.”
(Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23)
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
get Thee up into the high mountain;
O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem
lift up thy voice with strength,
lift it up, be not afraid;
say unto the cities of Judah: Behold your God!
Arise, shine, for thy light is come,
and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
(Isaiah 40:9, 60:1)
O u verkondigster van een goede boodschap aan Sion,
Klim op die hoge berg,
verhef uw stem met kracht,
O u verkondigster van een goede boodschap aan Jeruzalem,
Verhef die, wees niet bevreesd.
Zeg tegen de steden van Juda: Zie, uw God!
Sta op, word verlicht, want uw licht komt
en de heerlijkheid van de Heere gaat over u op.
(Isaiah 40:9, 60:1)
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
get Thee up into the high mountain;
O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem
lift up thy voice with strength,
lift it up, be not afraid;
say unto the cities of Judah: Behold your God!
Arise, shine, for thy light is come,
and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
(Isaiah 40:9, 60:1)

17. Duet (Alto, Soprano)

Recitativo.
Then shall the eyes of the blind be open’d,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
(Isaiah 35:5–6)
Dan zullen de ogen van de blinden worden opengedaan,
de oren van de doven zullen worden ontstopt.
Dan zal de kreupele springen als een hert,
de tong van de stomme zal zingen.
(Isaiah 35:5–6)
Then shall the eyes of the blind be open’d,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap as an hart,
and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
(Isaiah 35:5–6)
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd:
and He shall gather the lambs with His arm,
and carry them in His bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
Come unto Him, all ye that labour,
come unto Him all ye that are heavy laden,
and He will give you rest.
Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him;
for He is meek and lowly of heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(Isaiah 40:11, Matthew 11:28–29)
Als een herder zal Hij Zijn kudde weiden:
Hij zal de lammetjes in Zijn armen bijeenbrengen
en in Zijn schoot dragen;
de schapen die jongen hebben zal Hij zachtjes leiden.
Kom naar Mij toe, allen die vermoeid zijn,
Kom naar Mij toe, allen di zwaar belast zijn,
en Hij zal u rust geven.
Neem Zijn juk op u, en leer van Hem
dat Hij zachtmoedig is en nederig van hart;
en u zult rust vinden voor uw ziel.
(Isaiah 40:11, Matthew 11:28–29)
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd:
and He shall gather the lambs with His arm,
and carry them in His bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
Come unto Him, all ye that labour,
come unto Him all ye that are heavy laden,
and He will give you rest.
Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him;
for He is meek and lowly of heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(Isaiah 40:11, Matthew 11:28–9)

Part the second

20. Air (Alto)

He was despised
He was despised and rejected of men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.
He gave His back to the smiters,
and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair:
He hid not His face from shame and spitting.
(Isaiah 53:3, 50:6)
Hij werd verafschuwd en veracht door de mensen,
een man van zorgen, vertrouwd met het bitterste verdriet.
Hij gaf Zijn rug aan hen die Hem slaan,
Zijn wangen aan hen die Hem de baard uitplukken.
Hij verborg Zijn niet voor smaad en gespuug.
(Isaiah 53:3, 50:6)
He was despised and rejected of men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.
He gave His back to the smiters,
and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair:
He hid not His face from shame and spitting.
(Isaiah 53:3, 50:6)

32. Air (Alto)

Thou art gone up on high
Thou art gone up on high;
Thou hast led captivity captive,
and received gifts for men;
yea, even for Thine enemies,
that the Lord God might dwell among them.
(Psalm 68:18)
U bent opgevaren naar omhoog,
U heeft gevangenis gevangen genomen,
U hebt gaven gekregen om uit te delen onder de mensen,
zelfs aan mensen die U niet willen dienen.
Zodat de Heere God bij hen zal wonen.
(Psalm 68:18)
Thou art gone up on high;
Thou hast led captivity captive,
and received gifts for men;
yea, even for Thine enemies,
that the Lord God might dwell among them.
(Psalm 68:18)

Part the third

44. Duet (Alto, Tenor)

Recitativo.
Then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written;
Death is swallow’d up in victory.
(I Corinthians 15:54)
Dan zal het woord geschieden
dat geschreven staat:
De dood is opgeslokt in Gods grote overwinning
(I Corinthians 15:54)
Then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written;
Death is swallow’d up in victory.
(I Corinthians 15:54)
O death, where is thy sting?
O Death, where is thy sting?
O Grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin
and the strength of sin is the law.
(I Corinthians 15:55–56)
Oh Dood, waar is nu je steek?
Oh graf, waar is nu je macht?
De steek van de Dood is de zonde,
en de kracht van de zonde is de wet (van Mozes).
(I Corinthians 15:55–56)
O Death, where is thy sting?
O Grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin
and the strength of sin is the law.
(I Corinthians 15:55–56)