Vocal music is a type of singing performed by one or more singers, either with instrumental accompaniment, or without instrumental accompaniment (a cappella), in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which employs singing but does not feature it prominently is generally considered to be instrumental music (e.g. the wordless women's choir in the final movement of Holst's symphonic work The Planets) as is music without singing. Music without any non-vocal instrumental accompaniment is referred to as a cappella.[1]
A men's chorus from the 1940s or 1950s
Vocal music typically features sung words called lyrics, although there are notable examples of vocal music that are performed using non-linguistic syllables, sounds, or noises, sometimes as musical onomatopoeia, such as jazz scat singing. A short piece of vocal music with lyrics is broadly termed a song, although in different styles of music, it may be called an aria or hymn.
Vocal music often has a sequence of sustained pitches that rise and fall, creating a melody, but some vocal styles use less distinct pitches, such as chants or a rhythmic speech-like delivery, such as rapping. As well, there are extended vocal techniques that may be used, such as screaming, growling, throat singing, or yodelling. Vocal music is probably the oldest form of music, since it does not require any instrument besides the human voice. All musical cultures have some variation of vocal music.
Indian classical music is based on a rich vocal tradition, wherein even instruments are evaluated on their ability to follow the human voice, imitate it, or recreate the same expressions.
Elaborate untexted vocal improvisation was and still is an important element in Turkish and Middle Eastern music traditions. Such music existed prior to the 13th century and the First Crusade into Palestine and the city of Jerusalem, possibly even before the year 900.
The modern descendants of the ancient Kung tribes and clans of Southern Africa utilize similar traditional music techniques.
A form of improvisation known as thillana is a very important feature of Carnatic music from South India.
Tuvanthroat singing often features wordless and improvised song. The sygyt technique is a particularly good example of this.
Hasidic Jews use a form of voice improvisation called nigunim. This consists of wordless tunes vocalized with sounds such as "Bim-bim-bam" or "Ai-yai-yai!" often accompanied by rhythmic clapping and drumming on the table.
Puirt a beul, also known as "Mouth Music", is a Scottish vocal technique imitating the sounds of bagpipes, fiddles, and other instruments used in traditional Scottish music. It was popularized in North America by Scottish immigrants, and has been incorporated into many forms of American music from roots music to bluegrass.
Solfege, a vocalized musical scale, assigns various syllables such as "Do-Re-Mi" to each note. A variety of similar tools are found in traditional Indian music, and scat singing of jazz.
Jazz and popular musicedit
Hip hop music has a very distinct form of vocal percussion known as beatboxing. It involves creating beats, rhythms, and scratching.
The singer of the Icelandic group Sigur Rós, Jón Þór Birgisson, often uses vocals without words, as does Icelandic singer/songwriter, Björk. Her album Medúlla is composed entirely of processed and acoustic vocal music, including beatboxing, choral arrangements, and throat singing.
Singer Bobby McFerrin has recorded a number of albums using only his voice and body, sometimes consisting of a texted melody supported by untexted vocalizations.
Daniel Gildenlöw: A1 – A5. Top range may be heard on songs such as "Dea Pecuniae", "A Trace of Blood" or "This Heart of Mine"; for low range, "Imago", "Of Dust" and "Beyond the Pale" are good examples.
Elvis Presley: B1 – A5. Elvis' B1 may be heard on the song "Such a Night", and on "Mystery Train" an A5 is reached towards the end. Towards his later career, he developed a rich baritone voice which still mastered the higher register with immense power, such as on "American Trilogy", "Unchained Melody" or the joking "Little Darlin'".[8]
Maria Callas: F♯3 – F6.[15][16][17] In his review of Callas's June 11, 1951 concert in Florence, music critic Rock Ferris of Musical Courier said, "Her high E's and F's are taken full voice."[18] In a 1969 French television interview with Pierre Desgraupes on the program L'invité du dimanche, La Scala's maestro Francesco Siciliani speaks of Callas's voice going to high F.[17]
Mariah Carey: F♯2 – F♯8. Carey has hit an F♯2 while singing "You and I" live and an F♯8 while swimming with a dolphin, making her vocal range exactly six octaves and one of the biggest in popular music history.
Yma Sumac: her range was said to be "well over four octaves"[20] and was sometimes claimed to span even five octaves at her peak. From B2 to C♯7[21][22]
^Video demonstrating Elvis' vocal range through the years
^F Haböck, Die Gesangkunst der Kastraten, (Vienna, 1923), p. 209
^Soto-Morettini, D. (2006), Popular Singing: A Practical Guide To: Pop, Jazz, Blues, Rock, Country and Gospel, A & C Black, ISBN978-0713672664
^"Lisa Gerrard - Significant Low Notes - Significant High Notes". The Range Planet. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
^"Lucrezia Aguiari, dite La Bastardella ou La Bastardina ou Lucrezia Agujari, dite La Bastardella ou La Bastardina. Encyclopédie Larousse"
^Nicholas E. Limansky (Translated from English by Jean-Jacques Groleau): Mado Robin, soprano (1918 - 1960) 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
^Saint Bris, Gonzague (2009). La Malibran (in French). Belfond. p. 25. ISBN978-2-7144-4542-1.
^Ira Siff, « I vespri siciliani » in Opera News, March 2008.
^Ardoin, John (1991). The Callas Legacy. Old Tappen, New Jersey: Scribner and Sons. ISBN0-684-19306-X.
^ abL'Invité Du Dimanche, The Callas Conversations, Vol. 2 [DVD] 2007, EMI Classics.
^David A. Lowe, ed (1986). Callas: As They Saw Her. New York: Ungar Publishing Company. ISBN0-8044-5636-4.
^Saint Bris, Gonzague (2009). La Malibran (in French). Belfond. pp. 37 and 104. ISBN978-2-7144-4542-1.
^Ellen Highstein: 'Yma Sumac (Chavarri, Emperatriz)' Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy. (Accessed 8 August 2006)
^Clarke Fountain, "Yma Sumac: Hollywood's Inca Princess (review). Allmovie, reproduced in the New York Times. 1992. [1]
^David Richards, "The Trill of a Lifetime; Exotic Singer Yma Sumac Meets a New Wave of Fans." The Washington Post, March 2, 1987, STYLE; PAGE B1. Accessed August 6, 2006, via Lexis Nexis, [2]
February 24, 2024
vocal, music, type, singing, performed, more, singers, either, with, instrumental, accompaniment, without, instrumental, accompaniment, cappella, which, singing, provides, main, focus, piece, music, which, employs, singing, does, feature, prominently, generall. Vocal music is a type of singing performed by one or more singers either with instrumental accompaniment or without instrumental accompaniment a cappella in which singing provides the main focus of the piece Music which employs singing but does not feature it prominently is generally considered to be instrumental music e g the wordless women s choir in the final movement of Holst s symphonic work The Planets as is music without singing Music without any non vocal instrumental accompaniment is referred to as a cappella 1 A men s chorus from the 1940s or 1950sVocal music typically features sung words called lyrics although there are notable examples of vocal music that are performed using non linguistic syllables sounds or noises sometimes as musical onomatopoeia such as jazz scat singing A short piece of vocal music with lyrics is broadly termed a song although in different styles of music it may be called an aria or hymn Vocal music often has a sequence of sustained pitches that rise and fall creating a melody but some vocal styles use less distinct pitches such as chants or a rhythmic speech like delivery such as rapping As well there are extended vocal techniques that may be used such as screaming growling throat singing or yodelling Vocal music is probably the oldest form of music since it does not require any instrument besides the human voice All musical cultures have some variation of vocal music Contents 1 Vocal music without lyrics 1 1 World traditions 1 2 European classical vocal music 1 3 Jazz and popular music 2 Vocal music with lyrics 2 1 Songs 2 2 Extended techniques that involve lyrics 3 Wide ranging voices 4 See also 5 ReferencesVocal music without lyrics editMain article Non lexical vocables in music World traditions edit Indian classical music is based on a rich vocal tradition wherein even instruments are evaluated on their ability to follow the human voice imitate it or recreate the same expressions Elaborate untexted vocal improvisation was and still is an important element in Turkish and Middle Eastern music traditions Such music existed prior to the 13th century and the First Crusade into Palestine and the city of Jerusalem possibly even before the year 900 The modern descendants of the ancient Kung tribes and clans of Southern Africa utilize similar traditional music techniques A form of improvisation known as thillana is a very important feature of Carnatic music from South India Tuvan throat singing often features wordless and improvised song The sygyt technique is a particularly good example of this The Anglo Saxon and Gaelic communities Hasidic Jews use a form of voice improvisation called nigunim This consists of wordless tunes vocalized with sounds such as Bim bim bam or Ai yai yai often accompanied by rhythmic clapping and drumming on the table Puirt a beul also known as Mouth Music is a Scottish vocal technique imitating the sounds of bagpipes fiddles and other instruments used in traditional Scottish music It was popularized in North America by Scottish immigrants and has been incorporated into many forms of American music from roots music to bluegrass The Cante Alentejano is just based on vocal music It is one of two Portuguese music traditions part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists the other being Fado 2 3 European classical vocal music edit Solfege a vocalized musical scale assigns various syllables such as Do Re Mi to each note A variety of similar tools are found in traditional Indian music and scat singing of jazz Jazz and popular music edit Hip hop music has a very distinct form of vocal percussion known as beatboxing It involves creating beats rhythms and scratching The singer of the Icelandic group Sigur Ros Jon THor Birgisson often uses vocals without words as does Icelandic singer songwriter Bjork Her album Medulla is composed entirely of processed and acoustic vocal music including beatboxing choral arrangements and throat singing Singer Bobby McFerrin has recorded a number of albums using only his voice and body sometimes consisting of a texted melody supported by untexted vocalizations Vocal music with lyrics editSongs edit See Category Song forms for short forms of music with words that are sung Extended techniques that involve lyrics edit The Second Viennese School especially Alban Berg and Arnold Schoenberg pioneered a technique called Sprechstimme in which singers are half talk half sing and only approximate pitches Wide ranging voices editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed July 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Adam Lopez E 2 to E 8 Ariana Grande D3 E7 Avi Kaplan E 1 F 5 Axl Rose F1 B 6 4 Beyonce F2 to F6 Cher C3 E6 Clara Butt A2 B 5 Daniel Gildenlow A1 A5 Top range may be heard on songs such as Dea Pecuniae A Trace of Blood or This Heart of Mine for low range Imago Of Dust and Beyond the Pale are good examples Dimash Kudaibergen F 1 D8 5 6 Elizabeth Billington A3 A6 7 Elvis Presley B1 A5 Elvis B1 may be heard on the song Such a Night and on Mystery Train an A5 is reached towards the end Towards his later career he developed a rich baritone voice which still mastered the higher register with immense power such as on American Trilogy Unchained Melody or the joking Little Darlin 8 Ewa Podles A2 E 6 Farinelli C3 C6 9 Freddie Mercury F2 G 5 10 Georgia Brown G2 to G10 Isabella Colbran F 3 E6 7 Lisa Gerrard A2 to F 5 11 Lucrezia Aguiari C4 C7 12 Mado Robin E4 D7 13 Manuel Garcia G2 D5 14 Maria Callas F 3 F6 15 16 17 In his review of Callas s June 11 1951 concert in Florence music critic Rock Ferris of Musical Courier said Her high E s and F s are taken full voice 18 In a 1969 French television interview with Pierre Desgraupes on the program L invite du dimanche La Scala s maestro Francesco Siciliani speaks of Callas s voice going to high F 17 Maria Malibran E 3 E6 19 Mariah Carey F 2 F 8 Carey has hit an F 2 while singing You and I live and an F 8 while swimming with a dolphin making her vocal range exactly six octaves and one of the biggest in popular music history Michael Jackson E2 B 6 Prince A1 G7 Tim Buckley F 2 A5 Tim Storms G 5 G 5 Yma Sumac her range was said to be well over four octaves 20 and was sometimes claimed to span even five octaves at her peak From B2 to C 7 21 22 See also editChoir Human Voice National Center for Voice and Speech Phonation Sweet Adelines International Vocable Vocal registration VocaloidReferences edit Titze I R 2008 The human instrument Sci Am 298 1 94 101 PM 18225701 Cante Alentejano polyphonic singing from Alentejo southern Portugal unesco org UNESCO Retrieved November 3 2015 Fado urban popular song of Portugal unesco org UNESCO Retrieved November 3 2015 Comparing The Top Artists Past And Present By Vocal Range HuffPost 20 May 2014 Retrieved 2 March 2020 Dimash Kudajbergen priznan Zasluzhennym deyatelem Kazahstana in Russian Almaty TV 12 December 2019 Retrieved 10 February 2020 The Six Octave Man from Kazakhstan Coming To New York Caspian News Retrieved 10 February 2020 a b Encyclopedie Larousse Chant Video demonstrating Elvis vocal range through the years F Habock Die Gesangkunst der Kastraten Vienna 1923 p 209 Soto Morettini D 2006 Popular Singing A Practical Guide To Pop Jazz Blues Rock Country and Gospel A amp C Black ISBN 978 0713672664 Lisa Gerrard Significant Low Notes Significant High Notes The Range Planet 11 December 2019 Archived from the original on 2 August 2020 Retrieved 2 August 2020 Lucrezia Aguiari dite La Bastardella ou La Bastardina ou Lucrezia Agujari dite La Bastardella ou La Bastardina Encyclopedie Larousse Nicholas E Limansky Translated from English by Jean Jacques Groleau Mado Robin soprano 1918 1960 Archived 2011 07 19 at the Wayback Machine Saint Bris Gonzague 2009 La Malibran in French Belfond p 25 ISBN 978 2 7144 4542 1 Ira Siff I vespri siciliani in Opera News March 2008 Ardoin John 1991 The Callas Legacy Old Tappen New Jersey Scribner and Sons ISBN 0 684 19306 X a b L Invite Du Dimanche The Callas Conversations Vol 2 DVD 2007 EMI Classics David A Lowe ed 1986 Callas As They Saw Her New York Ungar Publishing Company ISBN 0 8044 5636 4 Saint Bris Gonzague 2009 La Malibran in French Belfond pp 37 and 104 ISBN 978 2 7144 4542 1 Ellen Highstein Yma Sumac Chavarri Emperatriz Grove Music Online ed L Macy Accessed 8 August 2006 Clarke Fountain Yma Sumac Hollywood s Inca Princess review Allmovie reproduced in the New York Times 1992 1 David Richards The Trill of a Lifetime Exotic Singer Yma Sumac Meets a New Wave of Fans The Washington Post March 2 1987 STYLE PAGE B1 Accessed August 6 2006 via Lexis Nexis 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vocal music amp oldid 1204157598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
