Pitch, dynamics, and vowel tuning in choral voice: Utilizing resonance strategies to train stylistic variance for choral singers

Abstract

Building off of the notion of absolute timbre and its influence on the perceptual and acoustical definition of vowel, we explore acoustic resonance strategies that can help singers address the challenges of performing in varied styles. Choral singers have to manage variation in singing styles more than any other musician, and yet, they are often the musicians with the least amount of formal training. Most choral directors choose a one-size-fits-all resonance strategy that accentuates the fundamental and suppresses other harmonics. This “Choral Cathedral” resonance strategy minimizes the challenges inherent in balancing voices whose power spectra vary, but eliminates many of the possibilities available to the voice. By training singers to recognize resonant strategies, and how they function and feel, singers can begin to explore more of their voice’s potential. Ultimately, this creates a more satisfying artistic experience for singer and audience alike. We use spectral analysis of different resonant strate...