Delsarte System of Oratory

Part First.
Voice.

Chapter I.

Preliminary Ideas--Criterion of the Oratorical Art.

Chapter II.
Of The Voice.

Organic Apparatus of the Voice--The Voice in Relation to Compass--The Voice in Relation to Vowels--Practical Conclusions

Chapter III.
The Voice in Relation to Intensity of Sound.

What is Understood by Intensity of Sound--Means of Augmenting the Timbre of the Voice--Rules for Intensity of Sound

Chapter IV.
The Voice in Relation to Measure.

Of Slowness and Rapidity in Oratorical Delivery--Of Respiration and Silence--Inflections--Rules of Inflection--Special Inflections

Part Second.
Gesture.

Chapter I.
Of Gesture in General

Chapter II.
Definition and Division of Gesture.

Gesture is the Direct Agent of the Heart--Gesture is the Interpreter of Speech--Gesture is an Elliptical Language

Chapter III.
Origin and Oratorical Value of Gesture

Chapter IV.
The Laws of Gesture.

The Priority of Gesture to Speech--Retroaction--Opposition of Agents--Number of Gestures--Duration of Gesture--The Rhythm of Gesture--Importance of the Laws of Gesture

Chapter V.
Of Gesture in Particular.

The Head--Movements of the head: The Normal State, The Eccentric State, The Concentric State--Of the Eyes--Of the Eyebrows

Chapter VI.
Of The Torso.

The Chest--The Shoulders.

Chapter VII.
Of The Limbs.

The Arms--Inflections of the Forearm--Of the Elbow--Of the Wrist--Of the Hand: The Digital Face, The Back Face, The Palmar Face--Of the Fingers--Of the Legs.

Chapter VIII.
Of the Semeiotic, or the Reason of Gesture.

The Types which Characterize Gesture--Of Gesture Relative to its Modifying Apparatus

Chapter IX.
Of Gesture in Relation to the Figures Which Represent It.

Part Third.
Articulate Language.

Chapter I.
Origin and Organic Apparatus of Language.

Chapter II.
Elements of Articulate Language.

Chapter III.
The Oratorical Value of Speech.

Chapter IV.
The Value of Words in Phrases.

The Conjunction--The Interjection in Relation to its Degree of Value--A Resumé of the Degrees of Value

Chapter V.
French and Latin Prosody

Chapter VI.
Method.

Dictation Exercises

Chapter VII.
A Series Of Gestures For Exercises.

Preliminary Reflections--The Series of Gestures Applied to the Sentiments Oftenest Expressed by the Orator: (1) Interpellation; (2) Thanks, Affectionate and Ceremonious; (3) Attraction; (4) Surprise and Assurance; (5) Devotion; (6) Interrogative Surprise; (7) Reiterated Interrogation; (8) Anger; (9) Menace; (10) An Order for Leaving; (11) Reiteration; (12) Fright--Important Remarks

Appendix

Epilogue

Arnaud On Delsarte.

Part Fourth.

Chapter I.
The Bases of the Science

Chapter II.
The Method.

Ellipsis--Shades and Inflections--Vocal Music--Respiration--Position of the Tone--Preparation of the Initial Consonant--Exercises-- Appoggiatura--Roulades and Martellato--Pronunciation--E mute before a Consonant--E mute before a Vowel.

Chapter III.
Was Delsarte a Philosopher?

Chapter IV.
Course of Applied Æsthetics.

Meeting of the Circle of Learned Societies--Theory of the Degrees.

Chapter V.
The Recitation of Fables.

Chapter VI.
The Law of Æsthetics.

Chapter VII.
The Elements of Art.

The True. The Good. The Beautiful.

Chapter VIII.
Application of the Law to Various Arts.

• Dramatic, Lyric and Oratorical Art.
• Application of the Law to Literature.
• Application of the Law to Architecture.
• Application of the Law to Sculpture.
• Application of the Law to Painting.

Chapter IX.
Delsarte's Beginnings.

Chapter X.
Delsarte's Theatre and School.

Chapter XI.
Delsarte's Family.

Chapter XII.
Delsarte's Religion.

Chapter XIII.
Delsarte's Friends.

Chapter XIV.
Delsarte's Scholars.

Chapter XV.
Delsarte's Musical Compositions.

Chapter XVI.
Delsarte's Evening Lectures.

Chapter XVII.
Delsarte's Inventions.

Chapter XVIII.
Delsarte before the Philotechnic Association.

Chapter XIX.
Delsarte's Last Years.

Literary Remains Of François Delsarte.

Part Fifth.

• Publisher's Note.
• Delsarte's Last Letter To The King Of Hanover
  • Episode I.
  • Episode II.
  • Episode III.
  • Episode IV.
  • Episode V.
    • Semeiotics of the Shoulder.
  • Episode VI.
  • Episode VII.
• What I Propose.
• The Beautiful.
• Trinity.
  • Reversal of Processional Relations.
• Passion of Signs, Signs of Passion.
• Definition of Form.
• On Distinction and Vulgarity of Motion.
• Gesture.
  • Definition of Gesture.
• Attitudes of the Head.
• Attitudes of the Hands.
  • Affirmation of the Hand.
  • Table of the Normal Character of the Nine Attitudes.
• Attitudes of the Legs.
• The Holy Trinity Recovered in Sound.
• Speech.
• Breathing.
  • Vocal Respiration.
  • Logical Respiration.
  • Passional Respiration.
• Vocal Organ.
• Definition of the Voice.
  • What the Register is.
  • On Shading.
  • Pathetic Effects.
  • On the Tearing of the Voice.
• Number.
• Medallion of Inflection.
• The Nature of the Colors of Each Circle in the Color Charts.
• The Attributes of Reason.
• Random Notes.

Part Sixth.

The Lecture and Lessons Given by Mme. Marie Géraldy (Delsarte's Daughter) in America.

Part Seventh.

• Article by Alfred Giraudet.
• Article by Francis A. Durivage.
• Article by Hector Berlioz.