Hello Wim
Thanks for the information about yourself and your studies. I contacted Donald Miller soon after his article came out in the NATS Journal of Singing about 2 years ago. I was going on sabbatical and I was interested in observing the reseach lab in which he worked in the Netherlands and the work of his mentor there. However, I was not able to travel out of the USA during my short one semester sabbatcal.
His article raised a lot of viewpoints that I had long considered and it questioned some viewpoints that I had used as reference material. Thus the interest. We are always looking for the most accurate form of information and we never quit learning.
The Electroglottograph primarily indicates the degree of vocal fold closure verses vocal fold opening on each cycle, if my memory with the device is correct. I do not understand how this information would also indicate accurately the vibratory patterns of the vocal folds such as the "ribbon' movement of the vocal folds, that is, their simultaneous movements up and down as well as side to side, nor the wave or " ripple" effect that also can be present in vocal fold oscillation. It is these various forms of oscillation that Titze indicates are the causes of phonational register changes. Each mode of oscillation is, in effect, a different register.
Stroboscopic examinations show these modes of oscillation quite clearly and their changes between modes, all the while maintaining a consistency of a well produced fundamental frequency in an ascending scale. It has been assumed, as I understand it, that the harmonic spectrum produced by each phonational mode is slightly different which would explain some of the differences in timbre between registers.
Of course, the primary differences in vocal timbre are created in the vocal tract through the effects of all forms of resonance as Donald Miller's article so clearly pointed out and, I assume from your summary of his thesis, he continues in more detail.
There is always the danger that we will hold any finding of fact about vocal function to be paramount over other equally important information. I agree with Donald Miller that resonance is a much stronger controller and more important influence on vocal timbre than has generally been considered. But phonational sound as a phenomenon that is the source of the resonated tone, is in need of an equal consideration and research.
A very good discussion
Regards -- Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA Professor of Voice, Vocal Pedagogy School of Performing Arts Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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