Vocalist.org archive


Date sent: Tue, 18 Jan 2000 17:59:40 EST
Subject: Re: Castrati
To: vocalist
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>

In a message dated 1/18/00 12:00:47 PM Pacific Standard Time,
vocalist writes:

<< Can someone please tell me how castration alters the voice?
I read that about 4 thousand boys were castrated in the 17th
century every year to enable them to have the most beautiful voices to sing
in the churches. >>

When a boy is castrated (it must be before puberty) they then lack
testosterone and the voice stays feminine.