subject from the singer's standpoint, always taking into account the necessary singing space. The first two chapters explain fundamental facts such as accents, mute and aspirate h, syllabification, legato and patterns of accentuation and stress. Not only intended for the novice, these introductory chapters will also clarify some of the seeming mysteries about the French language to those who have studied it previously and could well be used as the essential basis for a diction course limited to less than a semester's time. Seven songs by Duparc, Fauré and Debussy are presented within the book with text analyses and vocal lines, complete with IPA transcriptions and literal translations. Full piano scores of these songs (each in two keys) comprise Appendix 4. On the three accompanying compact disks the French examples and vocal lines in the first three chapters are demonstrated along with songs in performance and the piano accompaniments in two keys.

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