Textual communication in singing

Abstract

It is suspected that four factors alter the intelligibility of the word in vocal performance: (1) the singers' sensation of basic vowel resonance centers determined through auditory feedback, (2) frequency, (3) intensity, and (4) the environment of the vowel. To determine the degree of variation in basic vowel concepts among 15 expert singers and teachers selected for their good diction habits, 12 vowels were sung on 12 frequencies by four sopranos, four altos, three tensors, and four basses. Frequency deviations from the Appelman standard of resonance centers for sung vowels were measured on the vowelometer, an electronic formant tracker and phonetic analyzer. Sonograms of each sung vowel were made for verification of the vowelometer readings. Results of this experiment suggest that when singers sing vowels from conceptual origins within a closed servosystem on any frequency or intensity, each singer selects a specific vocal timbre rather than establish a center of resonance for each vowel. As the articulatory structures are altered to satisfy the singers' preferred timbre, the center of resonance for the intended vowel loses its integrity and migrates to the domain of another vowel, resulting in the loss of word identity and textual communication.