Vocalist.org archive


From:  bjjocelyn <bjjocelyn@p...>
Date:  Thu Sep 19, 2002  12:07 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist]Non vibrato?


In quotes :
"A good vibrato is the result of singing correctly. Trying to control the
vibrato means holding something in your throat."

Wrong. A "good vibrato" is not only the consequence of, but also the
condition to "correct singing" : one and same thing, a case of which came
first, the chicken or the egg?
Hence "trying to control it" is exactly what "correct" singing is about,
"correct" also implying "controllable", "flexible", what the Italian call
"pastoso", something you can shape, "knead" like modelling clay or dough
("pasta").
There is no such thing as a rigid vibrato, with pre-set speed and width,
unless any ill-triggered resonator plays interloper (bleat, growl...),
taking over the incorrect closure of the vocal folds, either too sloppy or
too tightened to sustain a vibration without further impetus than the
attack.
The unhealthy "wobble" the senior female choir singer in question is plagued
with might as well fall into a similar category, worsened by habits
ingrained through the years, hard to uproot.
Now, "holding something in your throat", but for the upsetting image your
very words seemingly call up for you, is, indeed, part and parcel of the
singer's craft : restraint versus full blast, piano versus forte,
etc...Needless to mention Jazz singing, where the command of vibrato speed
and width has proven but mandatory since the dawn of swing.

BJJA




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