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From:  mb10912@w...
mb10912@w...
Date:  Fri Jun 8, 2001  7:49 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist] miller on agility (to karen)


It is very interesting that you would say these things. I have
read Training Tenor Voices a bit and I agree with the agility
factor. I was classified as a baritone and I would like to think I
was actually being fairly successful as a baritone having beaten
out other good(real) baritones for solo opportunities as well as
successful auditions with the local opera company. However, now
that I have allowed my voice to function more appropriately(I feel)
my agility has increased tremendously. In fact, coloratura is not
a problem at all. I can sing agile passages that I never would have
imagined singing. I think it stems from darking my sound by
spreading
the pharyngeal wall and assuming the "yawn" posture as a baritone.
I'm not saying it is a bad thing. I am just saying that it was not
working for my particular voice, but now that I have been working on
some of the concepts suggested by Miller, I have seen much improvement
especially in projection, agility and how much effort it seems to
require to sing. Another interesting thing is that size does not
equal projection. I project much easier than before with a slightly
smaller sound. I have started placing my vowels in the space they
naturally resonate with no creation of extra space near or in speaking
range though this is a fairly new concept with me. I have rambled
enough. So, now I will go. Remember,
anything I have said is an opinion. Nothing I have said is to be
take as me feeling a certain thing is right, wrong, better, etc.
Take care.


Maurice Burgess
Senior-Tenor(A year old tenor now!)
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC

--- In vocalist-temporary@y..., Nancy Fontana <vocalist-temporary@y..., Nancy Fontana < > --- Greypins@a... wrote:
> > dear karen and the rest of you grumpy
> > vocalisters,
> >
> > one could legitimately criticize my
> > knowledge of physiology as being
> > incomplete, inarticulate and, at times, even
> > scatter-brained. so, i shall
> > quote richard miller on the subject of vocal
> > agility.
> >
> > in his book 'training tenor voices' on
> > page 88 in the chapter
> > 'developing agility', mr. miller says:
> >
> > "it is clear that the tenore di grazia
> > (tenore leggiero) requires
> > facility in negotiating rapid running passages.
> > not so widely recognized is
> > the need for agility from all catagories of
> > tenors who sing roles from the
> > romantic and even verismo lteratures of the
> > nineteenth century and early
> > decades of the twentieth century. passages
> > such as rodolfo's opening lines
> > from the first act of la boheme must be agile,
> > supple, and flexible.
> >
> > the ability to be flexible is a
> > requirement not only of running-note
> > passages, however. unless a tenor of any
> > vocal weight or catagory can move
> > his instrument with ease, he will lack freedom
> > in singing sostenuto." one
> > would assume this applies to all other voices
> > as well.
> >
> > not only does miller suggest that all
> > voices are physiologically capable
> > of agility, he insists that it is required.
> > the examples in the chapter are
> > 'il mio tesoro', 'ev'ry valley' and 'ecco
> > ridente'. so he is talking about
> > the same type of coloratura we have been
> > bickering about.
> >
> > it seems logical that any voice capable of
> > giggling or chuckling would
> > also be capable of coloratura. miller says
> > one of the things that happens
> > to tenors who are mistaken for baritones is
> > they have difficulty with agility
> > as they have been attempting to artificially
> > darken their voices. it is not
> > unusual to find singers calling themselves a
> > voice of a lower fach when they
> > have difficulty with their tops. in order to
> > validate their claim, they
> > often find themselves artificially weighting or
> > darkening their voices.
> >
> > i am not one who would say if you can't do
> > it for real, don't do it.
> > my motto is 'do what you can and fake the rest'
> > but, know the difference.
> >
> > still praying for world peace,
> > mike
> >
> AMEN Brotha GREAT SERMON!
> NANCY FONTANA
>
>
> =====
> Nancy Fontana
> The Rocky Mountain Woman
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
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