New-York tribune., 1916-06-18

! Mr. Morris he expressed himself freely.
THE bane of most music lovers he
said, when il comes 20 singers is the
tremolo. Practically all singers have It
to a greater or less degree. ! have
found one or two voices with so little
that il is negligible; but in general It
has caused me more trouble than any
other vocal fault It seems as if some
singers seek to acquire 1t. Others
don't know that they have it. Vocal
teachers don't seem to know what
causes it or how to avoid it.
"At first | couldn't understand what
il was, but a little study OF physiology,
showing me that there are two vocal
cords, gave me the clew. To produce a
perfect tone both cords must be held
at the same tension. If one cord is a
little looser it will have fewer vibra-
tions than the other This conflicting
of the vibrations of two different tones
produced at the same time IS what
causes the tremolo, with its 'out-ot-
tune effect. / have found that 1t can
be stopped temporarily-fo a period Of
about ten minutes by drink of cold
water. Some singers have a tremolo
one day and are without it the next.
Next 10 the tremolo,' continued the
inventor-musician, "the worst fault |
have 10 find with singers is that they
cannot sing in tune. Here ! have hun
dreds of records of voices from all
over the world. How many of them
adhere to the pitch regularly, do you
think?
"Surely not one in a dozen profess
sional singers can sing a simple scale
with anything approaching true lntona-
l. ehg hr+ a.
percentage.
"It is next to impossible TO find a
singer who can sing in tune, whose
voice has no noticeable trcmolO and
who. az the same time, can interpret
music acceptably. In general, the
artists who interpret well are the best
known throughout the musical world.
Many of the most famous Of opera
singers sing badly. They may inter
pret we'll. but that is a different mat
ter. Only a few artists, ike Caruso
and Emmy Destinn, combine interpre-
tative ability with faultless voice pro-
duction.
"The most perfect voice which as yet
have found is that of young man
named Donald Chalmers. You proba-
bly have never heard Of him. since he
is neither an opera singer nor a great
interpreter of song. Yet my records
show an almost perfect vocal organ
The great inventor frankly declared
that he preferred operate music 70 all
other types, and of the composers that
Verdi was his favorite The moderns,
according TO him, lack the gift OF
melody and are largely acquired
tastes, and in acquired tastes he does
not believe.
"Within two years | expect TO have
perfected the phonograph 20 such an
extent that I can give grand opera WIN
the help of moving pictures real
grand opera, the So variety, and not
some sort Of cheap imitation. The
operas will be performed complete with
the greatest singers OF the world IN
the leading parts. Just now opera is
confined 10 three or four large cities
in this country. When | get my sys-
tenn for combining these two industries
perfected every one can hear 10, ana
for 10 cents an opera, too.
Think of the educational advantages
70 be derived from movie operas.
They say in Europe that we are an
unmusical nation. We've never had an
opportunity 20 become musical To the
majority OF American citizens the best
that there is in music is denied. except
at rare intervals. With lo-cent movie
operas. children will become familiar
with Verdi. Wagner, Blzet and Puccinl
before their grammar school days are
half over.
"Talking-moying pictures have been