The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-09-09
From Bassini's A't Of Singing.
THE HUMAN VOICE.

THE HUMAN VOICE.
| There is no instrument capable OF pioduc.
ing tone q, all comparable with that Of the
human voice, and the glory OF all other in
slfuments consists in the nearness Of their
approach TO its marvellous perfection. Not
that il were desirable that all instruments
should exactly resemble The voice In quahiy
or tone--lhe individuality OF each instrument
and the variety Of tone in the orchestra con-
siiuting it's peculiar richness. But there are
many characteristics of the voice which were
desirable in oil instruments, such as ease in
the production of tone--,he facility Of pas-
! sage from one lone 10 another--lhe purity of
q lone, whatever its quality, may be--and a
sympathetic power in the expression of the
emotions.
The instruments which most closely re-
semble the human voice arc the violoncelIo,
the alto, tho violin. The instrument which
comes next after the voice, however, in
power and mprehensiveness, (aIlhough no,
so near resembling it in quality Of ione,) is
the organ. In its grandeur OF xprcssion and
IN its marvellous re sources, combining, as il
does more or less, all other mechanical in
slrumenls in itself, il is king among insru-
men,s Of human construction. The voice,
however, though possessing SO peculiar
quality, is yet capable TO remarkable degree,
of Initiating other instruments; for not on Iy,
by cultivation can il produce the actual tones
OF many instruments, but i, can initiate al
almost all sounds with which the ear is &C.
quamled.
Let US turn, then, 10 the mechanical s,ruc.
lure of this instrument.
A, tho basis Of the vocal apparatus, like the
bellows of all organ, lie the human bellows
the lungs. The Office of these is to furnish
air for the musical instrument located above.
The air is forced by the lungs through what
are called bronchial tubes, which extending
from either lung up toward the throat, grad
ually converge until they are resolved into
one tube-the windpipe. Atihe upper point
OF the windpipe is little bundle OF mechan-
ism called the drynz. II is composed of four
pieces which have the power of playing into
each other, or Of moving together. Through
The centre Of the iarynx is hollow passage
or continuation of The air lube. This tube
terminates in wide opening, which opening
is formed by the vocal cords, is Of triangle
shape, and is called the glouis. Above this
opening is a valve called the epiglouis. Tho
episloliis covers the air lube and protects in
ihe act OF swallowing, the food passing down
behind the back OF The throat Above the
| epglotIis is a continuation OF The opening,
(leadins both into the mouth and nose) call
The phArynz. The walls Of the pharynx have
The power o: contracting or acting upon tue
columns OF air, thus modifying the tone.
| 1t will be understood then, that the lungs
furnish the air and send it up to the lsrynI.
(Adam's spple,) at which point the tone 10
produced; the tone then passes up into the
! pharynx and back part of The throat, where
! it is modified al will, aud then arrives at the
mouth and lips, where the organs Of articula-
lion shape the tone, when necessary, into .
word.
1t may be remarked that there are cavities
in the frontal bone between and over the
eyes and in the cheek bones, which are in
connection with the back part of The throat OF
| phsryRx, and which serve as kind of sound
ing board for the tone. So thai when per-
! son has cold, and the membrane which
covers a.. these cavities is swollen and the
space of the Cavity diminished, aud the sides
Of the cavities changed as to hardness or coa-
ss,ency generally, the voice shows it inms-
dia,eIy, and is changed from lis usual resonant
quality.
A similar change is effected in the feso-
nance of the voice BY any unnatural cavities
in The lungs, as in The case of the spaces pro-
duced by rubur rcular softsning. Consump-
i've persons, therefore, experience change
in the voice, the tone growing deep and hoi-
low.
In mechanism there are three kinds of mu-
steal instruments list, the reed family, II
which the tone is produced by the vibrafion
OF the reeds, or tongues fastened Al one end.
%, the string family, in which the tone 10
! produced by the vibration of cords fastened
! at both ends. 81, the flute family, "a which
the tone is produced by The siosalioa of
column of air in fixed tube.
Now, Carpenter, in his celebrated work on
human physiology, considers the human .
reed instrument, althoush in some suess-
quent remarks be concludes that what are
called disstto tones more resemble the futs
family.
But canoot resist he eeaviction that the
voice is an admirable ecmpcgnd Of al three
meehsaisms, and for this reason Il is not
a reed aloue-eecause voice can slide from
one ions to another (Iiks sliding a finger up
violiE or guitar string) in . manner tmpos-
siete 10 a reed instrument Besides, in
reed icslrgmeot, the reed OF tonsue Is fasssu-
ed At cne sRd only whereas, the vocol cords
[in their PerpsaSicslaf extension through the
larynxj are fastened ii both. I'd. Tue voice
is not q strinsed instrument alous, because in
the production Of ialseuo tones so eallsdSS the
str,ogs cease to vieraSe. 81. Il is not aase
E i -