Training the Singing Voice - online book

An exploration of the theories, methods & techniques of Voice training.

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	CHAPTER VII CONCEPTS OF DYNAMICS
	D efinition: In the physical sciences, dynamics refers to physical force, power or energy. In acoustics it refers to the relative in­tensity or force producing a sound. In musical science it relates to the variation of volume, quantity or power of musical sounds. (W) From this last definition its application to voice is derived, namely, dy­namics refers to variations in the volume or carrying power of the sing­ing voice. Like most vocal and acoustical terms, dynamics has both subjective and objective connotations. Hence it is broken down into loudness and in­tensity* According to recent recommendations of the Acoustical Society of America, the term loudness should be used to designate the strength of the tone as heard, the mental or subjective impression, while intensity denotes the physical strength of the tone as measured objectively. These distinctions are logical and are coming into current use in scientific work. [Seashore 51s] Since both subjective and objective meanings of these terms are employed in training the singing voice, dynamics is also used to denote that department of vocal science that relates to the varia­tion and control of either loudness or intensity factors in voice produc­tion. Webster's succinct explanation is also helpful: "The power of a vocal tone depends on the force of the separate pulses of the vocal cords while they are vibrating, and this is determined by the pressure of the expired air stream, together with the resistance on the part of the vocal cords." Theories of Vocal Dynamics acoustical factors Curry defines intensity as "the rate of supply of vibrational energy per square centimetre of wave front/* [124, p. 40] This energy is propor­tional to the product of the amplitude squared and the frequency squared, i.e., I = a2R It is apparent from this formula that the intensity