Vocalist.org archive


From: David Cox
Organization: Arts Management
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: False cords
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

Thanks for your response John.

I agree that engagement of the false folds is always pathological
(although often used by, for example, muscial theatre singers for
effect).

As for what 'pressed voice' is: I must confess I've always had terrible
trouble with traditional vocal literature, trying to work out what
different writers mean by the same terms. False fold constriction (a
very common phenomenon) seems like a reasonable explanation for what at
least some writers mean by the term 'pressed voice'. Goes to show how
undefined a lot of traditional terminolgy is. However, your explanation
is very enlightening - thanks.

Cheers

David Cox


john schweinfurth wrote:
>
> On Mon, 07 Feb 2000 14:22:48 +1030, VOCALIST wrote:
>

> Use of the false cords in phonation is never normal and always pathological.
> The term "pressed voice" has nothing to do with false cord constriction, but
> rather with the thickness of the true cords "stacked up" along the vibratory
> margin. In this scenario, higher pitch is obtained by increasing the
> density, or hardness, of the true cord instead of stretching the cord
> thinner. (A more solid, or dense, object vibrates at a higher frequency) We
> usually refer to the sound obtained as "brassy." As you mentioned, this is
> high risk behavior that can end up causing benign vocal lesions.
>