High-speed imaging using rigid laryngoscopy for the analysis of register transitions in professional operatic tenors

Abstract

Introduction. Vocal fold oscillation patterns in tenors singing at high pitches (stage voice above the passaggio) are not yet understood in detail. Materials and methods. Nine professional opera tenors performed a transition from modal register (220 Hz) to falsetto or stage voice above the passaggio (440 Hz) on an /i/ vowel. High-speed digital imaging was performed using a rigid laryngoscopic system with a frame rate of 4,000 frames per second. Results. During the transition to stage voice above the passaggio seven out of nine tenors exhibited a strong retraction of the epiglottis with rising F0, which prevented further analysis of vocal fold oscillations. During transitions to falsetto many supraglottic modifications were also observed. Conclusion. Tenor stage voice above the passaggio seems to be typically associated with retraction of the epiglottis for the vowel /i/ thus preventing examination of vocal fold oscillations using rigid laryngoscopy.