Teaching an old dog

[macdobhran]

The other night, cellymcfae and I were discussing singers. Specifically a singer's vibrato. She pointed out that as a singer gets older or out of practice, the vibrato gets more pronounced. I always felt that it was more desirable to hold a note clear and true but she said that's more a trait of very young singers, like a boy's choir.

I may have gotten that explanation completely wrong but that's not really my point. I like classical music. Naturally I don't know as much about it as cellymcfae but I know what I like. I listen to it at work most times because it's relaxing and good background music. Don't get me wrong though, I still occassionally listen to my heavy metal and top 40 stuff. I don't want anyone thinking I'm civilized or nothing.

I also love Christmas music. Well, Christmas in general but the music is a big part of it. So I always look forward to the day after Thanksgiving when XM opens up their Christmas music channels. I'm sure you can see where this is going. Channel 106 on XM: A Classical Christmas is my favorite station right now. I do switch to 107: Special XMAS cause that's where all the juvenille, funny Christmas songs are. Although I haven't heard Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer yet, and you KNOW it ain't Christmas until me and Grandpa believe.

Anyway, I'm listening to 106 this morning and I hear Luciano Pavarotti sing. I've never really paid that much attention to him but I start concentrating on his voice (specifically his vibrato) and I can really see why he's considered one of the greatest singers in the world. He's got just enough vibrato to make it interesting yet his notes are clear and pure. It's interesting what you can learn and appreciate when you just listen.

Comments

[cellymcfae.livejournal.com]

*smile* Gee, you actually listen to me! Who knew? *g*

Yeah, that's one of his strengths, the tone quality of his voice--including the vibrato. Different styles of music often require different types of vibrato. Early music, folk music, and much Anglican church music is designed for singers with little or no vibrato. Opera, much pop music, and other classical styles sound better with more vibrato. Most music sounds like crap when there's a wide enough vibrato to drive a truck through! ;^D

Love you, sweetie. *smooch*

[faireraven.livejournal.com]

You know what kills me? I had vibrato as a kid, and it got killed by summer camp. Namely because kids made fun of me because I always sang with vibrato, and NO camp song is meant to be sung that way! *smirk*

Liken it to folk. No folk music really needs vibrato unless it's a slow aire...

Thing is, I can't get my singing voice to behave anymore... *sigh*

[dawntreader]

"She pointed out that as a singer gets older or out of practice, the vibrato gets more pronounced."

or if they just think they sound much better than they actually are and are trying to show off by out-singing all the other members of the choir. those are the people who have vibrato wide enough to drive a truck through. *lol*

(excess vibrato can also happen when you are high-school aged, selected to sing a solo piece BECAUSE you have a flat-toned young-boy-voice, but are very, very, very nervous. ... not that i know anything about this. i've uh... heard stories. yeah, that's it. stories.)

[cellymcfae.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Yup. When you force the tone, the vibrato gets really bad. Even professional singers fall prey to this. The more nervous you are the more the pitch tends to wobble. A little nerves is good. Too much and the vibrato goes haywire! ;^D