To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
From: Gib Wallis
Subject: TECH: Baritone Classifications (was Question about CD)
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

> I've had this kind of experience too:
> 1. There is quite a range of vocal qualities among baritones, Miller
>has reported classifications of baritono lirico and baritono robusto, not
>forgetting the bass-baritone. I've heard baritones that sound very close to
>tenors.



> >I realise that what I hear when I'm singing is far
>>removed from what everyone else hears, but to my
> >untrained ears Mr. Gallo sounds almost like a bass.


I went to amazon.com and listened to different samples of
Mr. Gallo's voice. It sounds like a quite lovely instrument,
and I can see the cause for confusion.

In the original post, the young singer asked for comparative analysis.
Unfortunately, we can't heart him!

Many young tenors start out singing baritone when they first start out,
and as their technical mastery grows, so does their range, etc.
I was in that category.

Other young baritones sing so lightly that their true timbre
does not come forth until they've mastered the basics of technique.
I've know baritones of this type.

Then there are baritones who simply have smaller and lighter
instruments. Compare the typical Papageno from the Magic Flute
with Gallo's singing on Marriage of Figaro (also by Mozart). Very
different sounds.

Of course, there's also the difference in style and size. Huge
voices often have a deeper sound to them... more lower partials. And
then there's style... Opera singers not only have an assortment of
styles that belong to them, but the types of voices that have
successful and enduring careers in opera tend to be huge.

So althought the average male singer may be a baritone, the average
baritone will not sound like the average baritone opera singer.

Just a few thoughts.

Oh, and I'm back... but mostly in lurk mode.

Best!

Gib
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