Vocalist.org archive


From:  Tako Oda <toda@m...>
Date:  Wed May 8, 2002  10:59 pm
Subject:  Re: acoustic properties of head voice ques.

Lloyd W. Hanson wrote:
> However, and this is the big difference, the male vocal tract is
> almost always of a different dimension, overall shape, and volume
> from that found in the female. This makes a difference in the
> resultant tone from a same or very similar phonated quality. For
> this reason, true countertenors who do not use falsetto will always
> sound different from females singing in the same range. Those who
> use falsetto will sound different from either males or females.

This is such an interesting point, I wanted to address it separately, if
I may:

It seems to me your comments are right on the mark. To delve deeper into
this question, it would require a study that compares countertenors with
small vocal tract dimensions to women. Then the only remaining variable
would be sex -- phonational similarities/differences would be much more
obvious.

Maybe size isn't all there is, maybe there are some proportional
differences between men and women as well. Or perhaps there are actual
mechanical differences despite similar equipment size/shape.

If there are no qualitative differences, though, I'd guess there'd be
some overlap. Countertenors with tiny vocal tracts might actually sound
more feminine than a contralto with a tenor-ranged speaking voice. I've
certainly mistaken several men for women, but I haven't mistaken as many
women for men...

Tako



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