Singing Guide: Messiah
Vocal technique, exercises, tips and relevant resources
Messiah is widely known for being an unmatched baroque-era masterpiece inspired by the life of Jesus Christ. The composer, George Frideric Handel created a work that includes an all-star array of arias, chorus numbers, instrumental lines, and performs with a distinct style, which can be emulated by aspiring singers who aim to perform in classical music.
To emulate Messiah's unique vocal technique, it is recommended to take a 21-day singing course, covering singing theory and practical tips. In addition, aspiring singers can learn the fundamentals of classical singing through the articles which include breathing basics, voice registers & vocal break, open mouth & throat, avoiding constrictions, and pop/jazz vs classical singing. These resources will support your understanding of singing techniques that can improve your voice and help you produce the classical music that Messiah is renowned for.
Practical advice that can help aspiring singers to learn Messiah's unique vocal technique is to study the composition's distinct melodic lines, harmonies, and metric patterns. Practicing the song's highly expressive arias will showcase your interpretation of the performance and creativity. Start with one aria and dissect it with the help of articles such as how to analyze your voice, how to learn a song effectively, articulation, resonance in singing, how to find your own authentic voice, and vocal health. Learn how to put the right emotion and interpretation into every word and every note you sing.
Singing Carrots offers a vocal range test, pitch accuracy test, a vocal pitch monitor, vocal training game, search songs by vocal range, singers' vocal ranges, and a host of warm-up exercises that can help develop the voice. Vocal exercises such as humming, breathing, and diaphragm bounce, and warm-ups such as Finger Bite, Sustain Vocal, Voice comfort zone, Good singing posture, Relaxing breath, and Glottal onset, Twang Exercise, Growling Exercise, and Vibrato, are just a few of the many exercises amidst a vast collection that Singing Carrots offers to hone the voice and gain confidence in classical singing.
Messiah's well-known arias such as, "Every valley Shall Be Exalted," and "And He shall Purify" require an exceptional balance between the upper and lower registers. Mastering the mixed voice technique is crucial here. For a better understanding of voice registers and voice breaks, Singing Carrots offers a video discussing the matter, in addition to videos covering Chest voice Explained. Contemporary singing techniques such as Heavy Modal, Twang, and Belting are also reviewed in-depth in another article.
In conclusion, to perfect Messiah's unique vocal techniques, you must combine the theoretical and practical resources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the essentials of classical singing. Singers can learn the style by studying the melodic lines, harmonies, and metric patterns of the arias, all the while articulating every note with perfect resonance and intonation. The Singing Carrots resources that can help you hone your voice include a wide range of exercises, a singing course, and a plethora of articles examining the fundamentals of classical singing.