Goodness me Taylor, I am confounded! These are exactly my considerations for the past month or so.
That is, how to ensure that the valum efficiently separates the nasal cavity. I had open in front of me when I read your note, The Structure of Singing pages 52/53. On page 53 Fig.4.4 the valum is shown in its at rest position, while in the drawing on page 52 it is shown sealing just as you describe thus maximising Oropharynx space. : ) (Term from the book.) It seems to me that the idea of a partially raised valum is an anachronism. Either it is relaxed or it is sealed off as the tone is produced. Although what would it be doing during the nasal consonants? Without the raising it would appear to me that pharyngeal resonance would be seriously damped causing efficiency reduction and noise. I am fortunate enough to have had three days at a Richard Miller seminar last week and his example of tone with the valum both sealed and not sealed was one of the things I was listening for and happily found.
Why should this particular matter be controversial?
Lowered larynx...I'm not so sure ; )
Thanks for consolidating my impression. Reg.
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