Words And Tone Should Agree


While singing, words and tone should agree. What does that mean, asks

one. It can be well stated when we consider how they do not agree. If

one sings "Sing ye aloud, with gladness," with a sombre tone the words

and tone belie each other. This result invariably follows the attempt to

cultivate the voice on vowels only, or on one single vowel. He who

watches tone while cultivating his voice reaches this result. We express

our thought while singing in words. Words are made by the organs of

speech, the chief of which are the tongue and lips. The tone receives

its expression from the pharyngeal cavity. If tone and words agree, the

tongue, lips and pharynx will work harmoniously in accord. It is when

one or the other does not work correctly that one belies the other.



Training of the organs of speech has been written upon so extensively

that for now more need not be said. Suffice it to say, that the organs

of speech can be trained upon a few enunciatory syllables in a short

time, so that every word can be distinctly understood. There is no

excuse whatever for our singers remaining so indistinct in their

singing. The way of getting the tone to agree with the words, is what

may be considered now. As said above, tone is regulated, so far as

quality goes, in the pharynx. That organ can be put into working order

and kept so through the expression of the face. The same thought is

expressed on the throat which is expressed on the face. The same set of

nerves operates the two organs. To show what is meant, recall that if

you hear someone utter a cry, you know from its sound whether it is a

cry of fright, of happiness, of fear, of greeting, of anger, or whatever

it may be. The position and shape of the pharynx has made the cry what

it is. One standing near the person would see on his face the look which

corresponds with the cry uttered. In this case the word and the tone

correspond. It is not easy to reach the pharynx for voice culture,

except through the face. It can be reached in that way. The tone for

general use in voice culture should be the bright one. Then the

expression during vocal practice should be a bright one. All vocal

exercises should be, on this account, practised with the face pleasant

and expressing happiness. This fact led many teachers, years ago, to

have their pupils smile while singing. It led to most ludicrous results.

The teachers said, "Draw back the corners of the mouth, as if smiling."

Very well. That may be good, but it has no particular beneficial

influence on the pharynx, or upon the tone produced. The mouth is not

the seat of expression in the face. Not that there is no expression to

the mouth, but its changes are limited. The eyes are much more

thoroughly the seat of expression, and through them the pharynx can be

reached. Let the eyes smile. Let the whole face take position as if one

saw something irresistibly funny, at which he must laugh. Practice with

the eyes in this way will brighten the whole voice. It will relieve

strain upon all the facial muscles and will render the organs of speech

more pliable, too. Having obtained such control of the eyes that one

expression can be placed in them, the student can attempt other

desirable expressions. He will find that whatever is used in and about

the eyes will affect the kind and quality of tone. He may arouse his

interest in some particular thought and hold that in mind as he sings;

the voice will then have warmth of tone and will readily receive

meanings. He may express varying degrees of surprise in the face and he

will find varying degrees, to correspond, of fulness and roundness go

into the voice. The use of expression in the face as a means of giving

character and quality to tone opens a field of experiment and experience

which will lead any teacher to practical and beneficial result. It is

not a new idea. Salvini, the great actor, has given some very useful

thought on that subject. Little of such instruction, important as it is,

has gone into print. Yet it is so important.



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