The Björling 'Opera' : A children's Nursery Academy and an Italian Conservatory in Miniature

The aim in this chapter is to develop a deeper understanding about the informal Björling 'School' in Sweden. Contextually the example is related to the micro history of opera education contributing to the macro perspective illuminating a provincial example of the concept of domestic opera schooling. The specific focus was on Karl David Björling (1873-1926), the teaching parent of the Swedish tenor Jussi Björling (1911-1960) and his brothers Gösta and Olle.   The Björling family model of opera schooling belongs to the classical canon of domestic home education which was common during the epoch. The phenomenon is also within the field of opera singing an important reference to the historical context of the Nordic opera history of vocal education.   The uniqueness concerning the Björling School seems to be the rigorous and exceptionally early training. David Björling’s pedagogy was rooted in earlier German theories of musical upbringing. It's clear from his results that he was familiar with the neo-humanistic ideal on which reformed music education was based. Of a specific interest is the term Gesang als Unterricht as a concept for developing childrens musical and memorising capacities.   Conceptually the roots of the Björling model are in the eighteenth-century Romantic view of prodigies and their abilities. The extensive touring is connected to the promotion of wonder-children, and David Björling’s educational style to the conservative Master-pupil tradition.   David Björling's vocal ideal was a part of the contemporary debate about “The decadence of the singing art”, and seems to have its roots in an older Italian tradition. There are recurring similarities between his educational methods and the didactic principles of the Lamperti School: Enjoying a revival around the late 1800s and early 1900s, it has been called the natural or the national school. Nevertheless, through authentic experiences and gramophone recordings the Italian tenor Enrico Caruso became David Björling’s pedagogical role model.

The material used in musical composition; a system of harmony designed originally for use in the English harmony classes of the conservatory of music at Stuttgart,

"Based upon the method of Prof. Dr. Immanuel Faisst."--Pref.

Klosé's conservatory method for the clarinet.

Mode of access: Internet.

The theory and practice of tone relations : a condensed course of harmony designed for the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Mass /

Mode of access: Internet.

Syllabus of lectures on the history of music : Given in the Oberlin Conservatory of Music /

Paged continuously.

National conservatory of music.

Mode of access: Internet.

The gardeners kalendar : directing what works are necessary to be done every month in the kitchen, fruit and pleasure-gardens, and in the conservatory ... /

Includes index.

The theory and practice of tone relations; a condensed course of harmony designed for the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Mass.

Blank leaves, some with manuscript notes, bound at end.

Gardening for pleasure : a guide to the amateur in the fruit, vegetable, and flower garden, with full directions for the greenhouse, conservatory, and window-garden /

Includes index.

Oberlin College Conservatory of Music Library Addition, Oberlin, Ohio, 1986-1988

[Conceptual Sketches], untitled. Ink sketches on graph paper, 8 1/2 x 11 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Oberlin College Conservatory of Music Library Addition, Oberlin, Ohio, 1986-1988

[Conceptual Sketches], untitled. Ink sketches on tracing paper with green marker coloring, 8 1/2 x 11 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Oberlin College Conservatory of Music Library Addition, Oberlin, Ohio, 1986-1988

[Conceptual Sketch], untitled. Ink sketch on tracing paper, 12x22 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Michigan League Conservatory

Michigan League, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Located in the cultural center of the campus. The Michigan League is a center for educational, cultural and social events, with hotel accommodations, dining and conference rooms as well as many other services.