Lloyd W. Hanson wrote: > However, and this is the big difference, the male vocal tract is > almost always of a different dimension, overall shape, and volume > from that found in the female. This makes a difference in the > resultant tone from a same or very similar phonated quality. For > this reason, true countertenors who do not use falsetto will always > sound different from females singing in the same range. Those who > use falsetto will sound different from either males or females.
This is such an interesting point, I wanted to address it separately, if I may:
It seems to me your comments are right on the mark. To delve deeper into this question, it would require a study that compares countertenors with small vocal tract dimensions to women. Then the only remaining variable would be sex -- phonational similarities/differences would be much more obvious.
Maybe size isn't all there is, maybe there are some proportional differences between men and women as well. Or perhaps there are actual mechanical differences despite similar equipment size/shape.
If there are no qualitative differences, though, I'd guess there'd be some overlap. Countertenors with tiny vocal tracts might actually sound more feminine than a contralto with a tenor-ranged speaking voice. I've certainly mistaken several men for women, but I haven't mistaken as many women for men...
Tako
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