Dear Wim and Vocalisters:
Because the vocal folds have three basic layers (from medial outward
they are mucosal, vocal ligament, vocalis muscle) the use or
interplay of these layers give rise to different modes of oscillation.
In chest voice all three layers are in oscillation, In head voice
the vocalis muscles relax and the longitudinal tension on the vocal
folds is sustained by the vocal ligament with primary oscillation in
the mucosal membrane and to some degree, the vocal ligament. What
you describe as a gradual transition as the cricothyroid muscle
stretches the thyroarytenoid muscles (also called vocalis muscles),
must at some point make the transition from thyroarytenoid muscle
activity to inactivity and vocal ligament activity. This transition
is the traditional passaggio and I have never found a voice that did
not have it.
--
Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
Professor of Voice, Pedagogy
School of Performing Arts
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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