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From:  "Wim Ritzerfeld" <w.ritzerfeld@c...>
"Wim Ritzerfeld" <w.ritzerfeld@c...>
Date:  Mon Jul 16, 2001  3:01 pm
Subject:  [vocalist] Re: falsetto (was lower register)


Lloyd,

Some notes:

--- In vocalist-temporary@y..., "Lloyd W. Hanson" <vocalist-temporary@y..., "Lloyd W. Hanson" < > Wim:
>
> Thanks for the post. I don't disagree, but you are not addressing
a
> key element in the changes from "heavy ('rolling' movement with
high
> vertical phase difference and high closed quotient) or light
(lateral
> movement with little vertical phase difference and lower closed
> quotient). The vocal folds are made up of 4 (some say 5) layers.
> From median laterally they are: mucosal membrane, vocal ligament
and
> two thyroarytenoid muscles ( I do not have my reference materials
> here so I must generalize). The "little vertical phase difference"
> description you mention is the result of the vocal ligaments being
> the primary resistance elements to the lengthening of the
> crycothyroids. The "rolling movement with high vertical phase
> difference" of which you speak is the result of the active
> involvement of the two thyroarytenoid muscles.
>

Agreed. This is the way Titze explains the correlation between
the vocalis/cricothyroid balance and the mode of vibration.
Sounds convincing to me, except that I maintain that the
transition from heavy to light mode and v.v. is not gradual,
but sudden, no matter how skilfully some singers can disguise it.

> Open and closed quotient has a very strong effect on the tonal
> quality but this is usually described as "pressed" phonation (vocal
> folds closed during most of the oscillation cycle) or breathy
> phonation (vocal folds open during most of the oscillation cycle)
aor
> the desirable correct phonation (a more or less equal balance
between
> closed and open of the folds during the oscillation cycle). It is
> possible to use any of these quotients in either light or heavy
> mechanism. Tthe light or heavy is more a description of the
> thickness of the vocal folds and the portion of the vocal folds
that
> is oscillation than it is a description of the closed or open
> quotient.
>

Yes, so indeed a low closed quotient does not necessarily mean
that the singer is using light mode and v.v. Fully agreed.

However, the closed quotients found during 'optimal' singing in light
mode are usually around 40% or lower, while in heavy mode they can be
as high as 75%. There are large differences between individuals, and
it is possible that the closed quotient of a female voice singing in
light mode exceeds that of a light tenor singing in heavy mode. While
this is true, I think it can be said that for the same singer and
for near-to-optimal phonation, the heavy mode is characterised by a
higher closed quotient than his/her light mode.

> Also the is no function of which I am aware in which there is
> "completely dominant vocalis (or) completely dominant cricothyroid.
> Depending any use, one or the other of these muscle will be
dominant
> but not without some antagonistic action of the other.
>

Fully agreed.

Kind regards,

Wim Ritzerfeld




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