| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
jo TRAINING THE SINGING VOICE
the early stages of training the pupil's natural voice is often so obscured
by tahnical faults that it is impossible to tell what type of voice he actually possesses/* [578, p. 438] Then also, there are many borderline or iouMul voices. According to Haywood, such voices seldom reveal their true classification until after their fundamental tones and normal resonance throughout the scale have been established. "A period of three months is not too much to give this all important point. . . . Obviously, no me can honestly declare voice classification at a single hearing/' A premature classification and the resultant misapplication of routine practice materials can even warp a student's vocal development to the point of ruination. [236]
Within these general proscriptions, the consensus is that voices are classifiable. There is a diversity of opinion, however, as to the selection of criteria for classifying voices. Curry holds that voices should be classified **accccding to the anatomical, physiological and psychological characteristics of the individual." These, he explains, deal with the general physique, dimensions and form of the larynx and adjacent resonating structures; the range, quality and intensity of the voice; and, finally, "the temperament and faculty of emotional expression." [124, p. 110] Saenger would measure the compass, the timbre and the tessitura (see Chapter VI) of a voice. These three elements "decide what kind of a voice the student has." [482] Tessitura as defined by Drew, is that part of the vocal range "that can be sung with ease for some time." This, he claims, is the part that determine the true classification of each voice; extreme notes of the range being only for occasional, not for daily practice. [147, p. 169; Owsley 441, p. 40] Stanley likewise points out that a well produced voice is categorized by neither quality nor range but "by the area in which [its mog; powerful and useful] tones Me/' [577, p. 323] Evetts and Worthing-ton express the opinion that a singer's vocal classification is determined % the location of his middle range on the musical scale (tessitura), not by Ms highest pitches; for the compass of voices may vary within the same classification. [167, p. 31]
A preponderance of author opinion (19 statements out of 30) favors the use of quality or vocal "color" (see Chapter V) as the sole criterion for classifying voices. The following are typical summarizing comments in this group:
1, Color and timbre only determine scope of vocal use. [Jarmila
JMovotna 431]
2. Voice placing (classification) depends upon "the natural color of the voice," never upon the type of music one can sing. [Gertrud Wet-
togrea654] |
||