Karl Halir was a sincere and very thorough teacher.
In the case of Halir, to whom I went later, I was in much better shape to take advantage of what he could give me, and profited accordingly.
When I came to de Ahna in Berlin, I was, unfortunately, not yet ready for him, and so did not get much benefit from his instruction.
It is a point any student may well note--that when he thinks of studying with some famous teacher he be technically and musically equipped to take advantage of all that the latter may be able to give him.
A visit to the educator's own beautiful "Music School" confirmed this conviction.
There is, indeed, artistic merit in a true vibrato which lends vitality to a voice, but when it degenerates into a tremolo, or wabble, it is a vice of the most unpardonable kind.
Frequently the tremolo is an affectation like the excessive vibrato of a sentimental fiddler; sometimes it is the product of weakness due to abuse of the vocal organ.
A little vibrato may occasionally be desirable when properly and skilfully used; more than this is to be shunned as a dangerous vice.
It is quite possible in the early stages of culture so to train the voice as to use the vibrato or not at will, but if not early controlled this, like other bad habits, gains the mastery.
The vibrato is caused by an undulating variation of pitch or power, often both.
The finger of the violinist vibrates on the string by rocking rapidly back and forth and the vibrato is the result.
Illustration: The Wicked Vibrato Peasant with the big Toasting-cum-Tuning-Fork.
Signor CESTE, and sung with a kind of double vibrato stop in his organ, which seemed, when turned on full, to make the upper boxes quiver.
Referring to Rubini, the originator of the fault, he leaves the impression that this singer used the vibrato only occasionally (which may at first have been the fact) and that as a means of heightening the dramatic effect.
He asserts also that vibrato is a trick invented after that day and out of place in the music of that period.
The continued vibrato is the worst defect in singing and is a certain sign that a voice has been forced and spoiled.
But when speaking of the rendition of Handelian arias, he evidently uses the term vibrato in the same sense as Sieber does tremolando.
This distressing permanent vibrato proceeds from ignorance or neglect of the register limits.
