Dear Michael and Vocalisters:
The passaggio for male voices is the same as their middle range.
Miller supports this terminology. For the tenor is is generally from
about D4 to G4, give or take a few notes adjustment, For baritone
Bb3 to E4, Bass Ab3 to C#4, etc. These are general and there are
individual differences.
The soprano middle voice begins at about Eb4 and ends about an octave
higher at Eb5. Again individual differences. This middle voice can
have short passaggio zones at both the high and low ends of this
range. Miller also points out that is often helpful to speak of a
low middle and a high middle range.
Vocal fold function is similar between men's and women's voices in
their middle ranges but, men's voices are under greater comparative
longitudinal tension in their middle voice (passaggio) than are
women's voices. This difference in longitudinal tension accounts for
the differences in vocal color.
However, vocal function is the determiner of teaching method, not the
tone quality that is created.
>
>Finally, I also tried to explore the possibility of a higher male
>register, described as the "pure upper" register by some - to me this
>male register is more akin to the "soprano" head voice. I did not
>clearly understand your view. I wrote, "There is for me a definite
>feeling of making a switch to produce this register, and when I
>listen to nearly all counter-tenors I hear a switch between the lower
>voice and this voice."
>
>In reply, you wrote, "My experience supports yours about the need for
>countertenors to switch into another "mode", as it were, of vocal
>production in the range from about G4 and higher. The classical
>singing technique does not make this switch but rather sings a
>production which is is more similar in sound and sensation throughout
>the voice."
>
>Terrific that we seem to be talking about the same thing. But now
>I'm still not clear: what do you term this "mode" that say
>countertenors switch to, and how is the phonational behavior
>different
>from that of the "classical" or "tenor" head voice mode?
>
>Cheers,
>
>Michael Gordon
>
>
--
Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA
Professor of Voice, Pedagogy
School of Performing Arts
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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