In the world of singing, Latin is no dead language, as it is often the language of choice for major choral works (such as a Requiem or Mass) and can be found regularly on contest lists throughout the United States. “The neglect is incredible when one recalls that Liturgical (Ecclesiastical) Latin is unquestionably ‘the’ second language of the choral conductor and choral singer, and certainly a basic language for the professional who performs solo recitals, chamber music, or the large choral-symphonic masterpieces of Bach, Bruckner, Dvorak, Haydn, Mozart, and Verdi.” Vocal music editor and pedagogue Robert Hines noted how important correctly teaching this language is at the beginning of his book, Singers’ Manual of Latin Diction and Phonetics: But what about the finer details of choral music that transforms sound choral programs into exceptional ones? One of these details is the proper teaching of diction, and there is no language in choral music more prevalent than Ecclesiastical Latin. In addition to developing tone, rhythm, and strong reading skills, we also have to build a solid understanding of teamwork and musicality in young singers, a process that takes years to develop. As high school teachers of vocal music, we are entrusted with many of the keys to success required to create a successful program.
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