Dear Tako and List:
On the comparison of various voices, including male versus female, it
should be remembered that the vocal apparatus has a 3-dimensional
physical geometry, and also that there are physical scaling effects
possible.
Let's first take the scaling issue. It is known that if all the
dimensions of a 3-dimensional object are say doubled in size, the
physical properties of the object have changed since the ratio of
volume to surface area has been altered. That is, if we have say a
rectangular box, in doubling the dimensions the volume will have
changed by a factor of 8, but the surface area by a factor of 4. So
what? So it would seem possible for different voices to have
different properties - such as different modes of vibration and so
on, because of physical scaling effects.
Tako wrote,"some contraltos have deeper speaking voices than some
high tenors. They may have longer and thicker cords, yet they have the
ability to use this upper register and sing up A5 and sometimes
higher."
COMMENT: While I do not know in detail the difference, I would
guess that (to generalize) the high tenor and contralto larynx and
vocal folds differ somewhat in their geometry - it is not a simple
two-dimensional issue of vocal length and thickness.
Tako further wrote, "If the high tenor had the neurological
wherewithal to use his cords in the same way, doesn't it stand to
reason he could singer (sic) just as high in a manner as legitimate
as the alto's?"
COMMENT: Tako has several times mentioned his neurological wiring
theory about the ability of certain males to sing high. It is an
interesting theory. From my experiences as a motor control theorist
for human movement (walking, etc.), I believe there is a good bit of
evidence to back up a different theory, namely that the intrinsic
mechanical behavior of the system being controlled determines
significantly what motor strategies the nervous system utilizes.
Said another way, I would be less inclined to attribute the ability of
certain males to sing high to "neurological wiring" and more inclined
to say that for some physical reason, owing to the 3-dimensional
geometry and physical characteristics of the vocal mechanism, the
physical apparatus of certain males more readily operates in a manner
to allow these high notes.
Cheers,
Michael Gordon
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