I don't believe that she has notes lower than the piano. I don't believe she
has a usable 7 oct. range. But...In the world of Pop music, the "also rans" and
the "clones" are abundant. Carey managed to do something different and write
her own material, using the whistle register effectively. She has since injured
her voice doing the "middle Gospel" thing, trying to be "urban". I believe that
she should not be villified for doing what she does well, on her own material.
The moguls at Sony who made her go Urban should be criticized. When you right
your own material and it sells with you performing it, then you can critique
her! I understand that she does some things technically that don't endear her
to the classical vocalist, but she is not one. She sings music that she writes
for the most part, and that sells. Classical musicians tend to get caught up in
creating a "note for note", technique by technique, mentality that is not
musical, artistic, or creative. We would do well to understand that the great
composers were improvisationists first, creative to a fault. We should commend
those who extend that craft.
Colin Reed <colin-reed@l...> wrote: But the most important thing is "Can
you sing the rep?" I would never say
"Callas was great because it says somewhere in a book that she had THIS big
a range". I would say that her persona on stage, her phrasing, her tone,
her communication with the audience and many more things are what made her a
great performer. So, if someone reads that Mariah Carey can actually
physically sing lower than you can hear, and also songs purely for dogs to
listen to, then fair enough if that's how they want to judge someone.
Personally I'd rather use my ears.
Colin Reed, tenor
Newark, UK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Earl Presley" <egpburk@s...>
To: <vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: 02 February 2003 19:32
Subject: Re: [vocalist] Question
>
> Range has always been part of the criteria for vocal catagorization.
Tessatura is probably more important than range, but the great ranges of
Minnie Riperton, Mariah Carey, and for that matter Sills and Calas separate
them from their competition and allow them to do repertoire that others find
difficult if not impossible. So to answer the question "who cares?" -
everyone does. It is reflected in audience participation everywhere.
Countertenors, coloraturas, whistleregisters - all intrigue us as singers,
teachers, and audiences alike.
> Earl Presley, MM, MTS, BME
> LYNDA313@a... wrote:In a message dated 2/2/2003 1:15:08 PM Eastern
Standard Time,
> johnlink@n... writes:
>
> > I'd like to know who is doing the crediting. It is absurd to believe
> > that Mariah Carey, or anyone, for that matter, could posses a range
> > greater than the piano.
>
>
> I know it must sound flip, but honestly, who cares how super-wide a range
is?
> If a voice is beautiful, expressive, healthy and flexible, having 3 or 4,
or
> 8 (!) octaves is great...if it is harsh or inflexible or unhealthy, even
the
> widest range is not something I want to hear in a performer. Just my gut
> reaction to the topic. I know some may be impressed from a scientific
> standpoint, but I'm not in that group.
>
> Lynda Lacy-Boltz
> Raleigh NC
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