![]() Even proper laryngeal resistance to flowing air may produce small, externally visible vibratory movements in the neck, jaw and tongue.ĭespite the small oscillatory motions of intralaryngeal areas, during vibrato, the basic position of the larynx remains relatively stable (unless a singer suffers from a wobble or tremolo). The tongue floor and jaw musculature are closely related, so external movement generated by the vibrato is transferred to the body of the tongue through the tongue's attachment to the hyoid bone, and to the submandibular muscle system. Tiny movements of the tongue and jaw - not likely visible to the naked eye - can also be detected in all vibrant phonation, and may be the normal consequences of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. (This vibratory movement is often more apparent in singers with thin, long necks and in those with prominent thyroid cartilages - an 'Adam's apple' - than in those with thick, short necks or with hidden or more deeply embedded laryngeal prominences.) Therefore, a small amount of sympathetic vibratory action, discernible on the neck surface, is not necessarily problematic. Even small movements of the tongue, epiglottis and pharyngeal wall may be transmitted to the external musculature of the neck. This motion is a major component of the relaxation process that comes from coordinating breath energy with vocal fold responses. During the execution of vibrato, periodic oscillatory movements are also transferred to the tongue, epiglottis, and pharyngeal wall. Vibrato is not simply a function of the larynx. Along with this tension change is a variation in the thickness of the folds. ![]() ![]() The tension of the vocal folds is varied rhythmically, creating movement in pitch. The oscillations that occur in vibrato are the body's reflexive response to mounting tension, and are believed to be the result of the healthy function of the vocal folds. ![]() It occurs naturally in order to protect the vocal folds. When we lift or hold a heavy object for a long period of time, we'll often experience a periodic but constant shaking of the muscles that are being used.) In other words, the muscles of the larynx begin to pulse rhythmically in response to tension and subglottic pressure, and that produces the characteristic vibrato sound. (Consider how muscles elsewhere in the body, such as those in our arms, begin to shake when strain or tension is prolonged. When this balance occurs, the antagonistic muscle systems develop an alternating pulse that is a reflection of the continued energy level required of them to maintain equilibrium and muscular health. Vibrato is the result of a balance between muscle systems in antagonistic relation to each other during phonation. It is generally assumed to result from neuromuscular excitation of the laryngeal mechanism. The parameters of vibrato include pitch excursion (oscillation), the temporal rate (cycles per second), and amplitude variance.Īlthough the purpose of vibrato is not completely understood, most voice scientists agree that vibrato enters vocal production as a relaxant principle because the body has a need for periodic muscle relaxation during heavy-duty or intense vocal activity, such as when singing sustained notes at high pitches. (It is more difficult to maintain exact pitch on a sustained note when singing in a 'straight tone'.) When vibrato is permitted to take free-swinging pitch excursion, it actually acts as a centering intonation device. The pitch variance remains centered around the actual written pitch, and the listener automatically hears the average of the pitches being sung. The effect is believed to add warmth to the voice.Īlthough vibrato is perceived as a pitch variant, it is discerned as a vocal timbre, or as an integral part of tone, evenly distributed over the group of notes, rather than as a pitch deviation. This periodic variation in the pitch (frequency) of a sustained musical note or tone should not exceed a semitone either way from the note itself. In vibrato, the voice is alternating subtly and very quickly between two pitches that are very close together.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |