[Artemisia] vibrato (was period music)

[rayzentz at aim.com]

Actually, in a good vibrato, the pitch is the center of the frequency variations in the vibrato. But you are correct, it can "muddy" up the sound in an ensemble, unless, through training, incredible luck or God's Good Grace, the singers' vibrato rate and amplitude are the same. This does not happen often, to say the least. There are techniques and styles where someone might change the relationship of the "center" of the pitch, in relation to the highs and lows of the pitch variation. The technical side of this can be a very fascinating discussion, but probably not for this particular venue.

It is, and always has been, my opinion that a highly skilled singer sould be able to control all aspects of the voice, including the vibrato. Those who cannot, limit themselves. That is not to say that they cannot sound beautiful, and have a lovely voice, and be marvelous performers, because there are many that do, and are. It just means that the kinds of music they can perform effectively is limited.

Padruig



Dr. Raymond Zentz
 
It is better to die a free man, than to live, a slave.



-----Original Message-----
From: Rebecca Mikkelsen <mikkelsen_rebecca at hotmail.com>
To: Artemisia Artemisia <artemisia at lists.gallowglass.org>
Sent: Sun, Feb 7, 2010 11:54 am
Subject: Re: [Artemisia] vibrato (was period music)



sther posted:
> Disclaimer- I was posting on Sarah's behalf because she was off babysitting 
nd couldn't post to the Aerie herself.  I can carry >a tune but I'm no singer 
) She was trying to find information on period singing and not finding anything 
efinitive on the >vibrato question.  Her mixed choir teacher, Dr. Mikelson at 
elena High, strongly encourages vibrato almost all the time, so it is >very 
ard for her to eliminate it totally.
I would highly encourage Sarah to learn to control her vibrato.  I find it 
nteresting that her choral director encourages nearly constant use of vibrato.  
hen singing vibrato, the vocalist sings all around a pitch, never really 
itting the pitch.  In choral singing, this leads to muddy sounds.  Also, 
omeone who has a strong vibrato voice usually sticks out in a choir.  The point 
f choral singing is to sound like one voice.  That is hard to do with everyone 
inging vibrato.  My choral director frequently reminds the choir to not use 
ibrato, especially the sopranos and basses, who seem to have a more difficult 
ime controlling it.
I really couldn't tell you about vibrato in period music.  However, Chant does 
ot use vibrato as the point is the clear, single-voice sound.  I doubt 
adrigals would be pleasant sung with a lot of vibrato because there are so many 
oving parts that vibrato would get in the way of the sound.  Listen to the 
ings's Singers.  They don't use any vibrato when singing madrigals and their 
ound is so clear and perfect.
Rebecca
                     
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