"David Grogan" <dgrogan@e...> wrote: > My first impression was that this was an extremely lyric tenor voice, almost like an Irish tenor. When we began working today, however, it became apparent that he could not crescendo one whit on his high notes.
Perhaps a haute contre? Hautes contre would otherwise be tenors or lyric baritones, but they have a natural ability to go right into "voix mixte" without a break. We've just been talking about this whole upper register thing on vocalist. Voix mixte is is more like a woman's head voice, rather than like a full-voiced tenor's.
They are fairly rare, and he might have a nice career ahead of him if he develops it (Bach evangelists, Carmina Burana, barbershop). This business of his not being able to sing above D4 with breath pressure reminds me of a story of the young Russell Oberlin. Once he learned to keep the support going into the higher notes, his tenor extended clear up to an F5!
The reason for the sudden break now at D4 may be due to the introduction of support to the bottom voice, all the while he still doesn't know how to do it to his upper notes. So of course there will be a break. Before, neither register was supported, hence the easy transition.
As the top grows stronger, he may be able to bridge the two again, but this time with support. If he learns to maintain the space of the lower voice in the upper, he may learn to keep his larynx in a natural position which will ultimately give him dynamic control and allow him to regain his seamless transition.
Of course, this may not be meant to be. Maybe he is destined to be a lovely lyric baritone or a tenor. Who knows? I just wouldn't rule anything out.
Tako
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