(a) Zara resounds with sounds of Sarah's zither. (b) Zuriel resists Zaccheus zealously. (c) Ezra's seizure assured the exposure of Ziska's trea ELEMENTS OF EXPRESSION In voice production, as has been shown, the air com from the lungs is vocalized in the larynx, and is mol into consonants and vowels by the organs of articulati There is, however, in the expression of thought and emot more than this. In the expression of anger, for examp the voice takes a tone different from that which it takes the expression of pity. It also takes on a higher pitch greater force, and a more rapid movement. We will n consider these elements of expression, QUALITY Quality is that which distinguishes the voice of one perso from that of another. Two persons sing on the same pitch that is, their tones are at the same point on the musica scale; they sing at the same loudness; and yet the voice o one is noticeably different from that of the other. The differ in quality. Quality it is which distinguishes the ton of a violin from that of a piano. The violin-string may vibrate the same number of times as the piano-cord, and therefore produce a sound of the same loudness; but it is made of different material, and has behind it a resonancechamber of different shape and size. These give it a differ ent quality. To produce the best quality of voice a speaker must first of all have healthy, well-developed, perfectly controlled vocal organs. A small mouth, thick vocal cords, imperfect breathing, rough, dry lining of the resonance-chambers, any one of these will greatly injure the quality of the voice. Moreover the condition of the mind and heart affects greatly the voice-quality; for the voice, it must always be borne in er. a's treasure. air coming is molded ticulation. d emotion example, takes in - pitch, a will now e person e pitch, musical voice of They e tone g may , and t it is ance Ciffer first ocal ath one re the mind, is not simply the product of a machine. It is the manifestation of the soul. A gloomy, splenetic person falls habitually into a grouty tone, while a joyous temperament shows itself in a jubilant quailty of voice. To produce the best quality of voice, then, a speaker must have a healthy, well-trained, happy mind. The quality of the human voice is susceptible of variations as manifold as the numerous states of mind and heart. Of these the most important and representative are the Pure, Orotund, Aspirate, and Guttural. THE PURE TONE The Pure tone is that which expresses the normal state of the well-balanced mind and healthy body. It is employed in the expression of thought that is unimpassioned or is only mildly emotional, in the speaking or reading of scientific description and exposition, unemotional narrative, and joyous, playful, humorous, or mildly pathetic discourse. To produce the Pure tone allow no more breath to escape than can be vocalized, keep the muscles of the throat relaxed, and direct the air-column to the front part of the mouth. To develop this tone practice the following exercises. In practicing them keep your ears open; see that the tone is not husky, trembling, nasal, or throaty. And since you are so accustomed to the sound of your own voice that you will find it difficult to judge it correctly, secure, if possible, the assistance of an honest and competent teacher. I. Taking an easy pitch, sing the following in as gentle and pure tone as possible: oo, ō, e, i, la, ah, ing. II. Chant the following on different notes of the scale, giving one line to each note: * "I chatter, chatter, as I flow To join the brimming river; For men may come and men may go, ee Churchill: “Vocal Cultura 'I wind about, and in and out, And here and there a grayling.' III. Read the following selections thoughtfully appreciatively. In developing the different qualities of do not trust overmuch to imitation; do not produc tone simply from the outside. Think the thought c and feel the emotion genuinely. The primary sources good speaking tone are clearly conceived thought and gen Told me so I could not doubt it, How she danced-my Grandma danced!— How she held her pretty head, How her dainty skirt she spread, Turning out her little toes; "Grandma's hair was bright and sunny; Bless her! why, she wears a cap, Grandma does, and takes a nap Every single day; and yet Grandma danced the minuet Long ago. "Now she sits there, rocking, rocking Long ago). 66 It was his greatest pride in life that he had bee soldier, —a soldier of the Empire. He was known sin as The Soldier", and it is probable there was not a m and certain that there was not a child, in the Quarter did not know the tall, erect old Sergeant with his w mustache, and his face seamed with two saber-cuts. 'Yes, they all knew him, and knew how, when he was over thirteen, he had received the cross which he always w over his heart, sewed in the breast of his coat, from the ha of the Emperor himself." See page 109 "So you beg for a story, my darling, my brown-ey Leopold, And you, Alice, with face like morning, and curling loc of gold; Then come, if you will, and listen-stand close besi my knee To a tale of the Southern city, proud Charleston by th sea. "It was long ago, my children, ere ever the signal-gun That blazed above Fort Sumter had wakened the Nort as one; Long ere the wondrous pillar of battle-cloud and fire Had marked where the unchained millions marched o to their heart's desire." tone. THE OROTUND The Orotund is the Pure tone enlarged. It is as free from huskiness, nasality, and impurity of every sort as is the Pur It is, however, fuller and deeper. When it is pro duced, the resonance-chambers are made as large as possible, the lungs being expanded and the vocal passage thrown wide open, and the reënforcing vibrations to a great extent come from the chest. Professor Monroe shows the physiological differences between the two tones as follows: * * Monroe: "Vocal and Physical Training," p. 36. Cowperthwait & Co., Philadelphia. |