Preamble to Part Three

Abstract

Abstract This section begins with an alphabetical list of standard French pronunciations of proper nouns. Many of these names are encountered in French vocal music, yet their standard pronunciations are very often difficult to research. Transcription in IPA is provided for over 10 000 names of people, places, and things. The entries are predominantly names encountered in, or directly associated with, French vocal repertoire, as well as the arts and culture of France and French-speaking regions. They include opera and literary titles, the names of well-known fictional or mythological characters and operatic roles, as well as the surnames (patronymes) of composers, singers, instrumentalists, visual artists, conductors, authors, poets, librettists, and historical figures. Common French given names (pronoms) are included, as are the countries of the world, regions, cities, and settlements (toponymes), with particular focus on challenging French place names and the labels for the inhabitants of those places (gentilés). Each name is transcribed in an elevated tone. Where multiple pronunciations are possible, options are provided. Musicians all over the world use Italian musical terms in their vocabulary. Words such as crescendo and legato are routinely anglicized in everyday use in English, and are just as readily francisés in French. The second list in this section is a short guide to the pronunciation of some of the most common Italian musical terms, as they are normally used in a modern French setting. It will be useful for any singer working in a French-speaking environment. Transcriptions are provided in IPA.