The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-14
WHY THE SINGER CAN SING.
An Explanation Called Forth by al
Absurd Story About Patti.


Absurd Story About Patti.
From the Louisville Courier-JourrldL.
There was an item in a British publica-
ton recently which said that Nine. Adelina
Patti had sold her larnyx to scientists who
wanted to know how 1t was constructed.
This item did not mention the name of the
purchasers, but said that they were not to
claim their purchase until after the singers
death. The object of it all, according TO
this pleasant bit of news, was to ascertain
In what respect PATHS throat, and particu-
larly her vocal chords, differed from other
peoples.
But there is no truth in IL. and the only
effect of the story was to make tender
hearted folks shiver. The paragraph WAS
shown to DR.. Holbrook Curtis of New
York, who has carefully studied the voices
Of all the well-known singers from physi-
clans standpoint. Said ne:
This story is perfectly absurd. A laryn-
gologist can examine the vocal cords fully
as we'll in living being as in corpse. By
means of mirrors and refiectors these cords
are as plain to his eye as the patients nose.
But even If this were not 30, very little
could be derived from the examination of
the cords Of a corpse, for the moment life
ceases they lose their tensions, become
loose, flabby BANDS, and are of no use what
ever for scientific examination or expert
ment
"As for Nine. PATHS cords and her
throat, | do not think they differ in the
least from those of great many other peo-
pie. The good voice in singing does not en-
tirelY depend on the construction OF these
parts. OF course they are highly important
factors in voice production, and you will
probably find that most good singers have
smooth vocal cords, we'll proportioned, even
Appropriated, and free from all rOughness
or thickening. But have often found the
mos. beautiful and the dearest vocal cords
in people who could not producela melodious
sound to save their lives.
If a laryngologist were to examine the
larynxes of half a dozen people whom he
had never seen before, he could not tell
with certainty whether or not they were
good singers. He could tell whether
their vocal cords were well
formed, and he might even venture
guess to their musical power, but his
guess would not be based on any scientific
principle.
There is in every brain musical center,
and upon its development and its condition
depends the singing voice. This center has
not yet been located. but from the existence
OF cehters of other physical functions, such
as equilibrium, speech and 30 forth, its ex-
istence is established by analogy. How
could IL be explained otherwise that some
talk, while others, whose vocal cords are to
all appearances identical with theirs, and
not produce a single notel This is simply a
higher development of the musical center
10 the one case, and lower in the other.
This center communicates with and con-
trolls the faculties for the expression of the
musical idea There are very often cases
where one singer finds it alb olutely impossi-
BILE TO sing phrase that another can glide
through with ease, yet their vocal cords and
their larynxes may be formed just alike.
The facility of musical action or technique
is dependent upon other causes than the
construction Of the lerynx. Another way
to illustrate the idea is this; Two men
have legs shaped exactly alike. One may
walk very gracefully and the other very
clumsily, yet they both exercise the same
nerves and muscles. I'll simply a differ
ence in the development Of the cenkers of
muscular coordination.
$50 you see, the vocal cords play only a
minor part in singing. They are merely
like the strings of the violin. There are
good strings and bad strings, but the tone
that is produced does not depend entirely
upon their quality. a more important part
in singing is played by the bucal and nasal
cavities and the chest, for upon them de-
.Dend the resonance and the timbre of the
tone.n