Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-23
NOTED SINGERS AID
SCIENTISTS STUDIES
Gigli, TibbettS, Bori, AIthouSe
and Werrenrath Become
Subjects.
BY THOMAS r.. HENRY.

Some of Americas foremost singers
have become laboratory subjects of
Carnegie Institution scientists studying
the extremely complex mechanism of
the human voice.
These include Benjamin Gigli, Lu-
cretia Bori, Lawrence Tibbetts, Reinald
Werrenrath and Paul Althouse. The
study, which is being directed by DR..
G. oscar Russell of Ohio State Uni
versity, seeks to determine the minute
physiological differences in vocal or
gans and other parts of the body which
may account for good, bad and indif-
ferent singing voices.
X-Ray Pictures Made.
DR.. Russell reports, have been made on
the Threats and heads of these artists
and many other singers in the act of
singing. The exposures were exactly
synchronizsd with high quality-sound
records, making 1t possible to check
back on exactly what the pitch and
voice quality was at the moment the
picture was taken. These photographs
show the exact position of the lip.
tongue, velum, larynx and hyoid bone
and the exact diameter of the lips and
opening of the larynx. They also show.
In most cases, the exact length OF the
vocal cord. Eventually 1t is expected
to obtain such data for nearly all the
operate and concert stars Of the coun-
try, singers and students with poorer
voices, and deaf persons and those with
recognized bad voices. From this mass
of evidence efforts will be made to iso-
late the responsible factors.
A general characteristic of the good
singer, DR.. Russell reports, is the ere
sonance," or carrying power Of the
voice. Without this quality highly de-
veloped a professional career is prac-
tically impossible, regardless OF other
voice excellences. Teachers have been
unable to account for the failure OF
promising pupils to develop this quality.
New Instrument Made.
It has long been held that the Garry
ing power" difference was not due to
the quality of the sound as 1t came
from the larynx, but was function OF
the nose, head and chest cavities, which
acted as "resonators." The study OF
this required construction OF new
instrument the sonometer which could
register with extreme accuracy the
CdTTYulK
tinguish this from the pitch at any
point from the instant it leaves the
larynx. In this way it was hoped the
place where it picked up its carrying
power could be located.
To the great surprise of the scientists,
no such point could be found. The
carrying power of tenor, soprano, bass
and baritone voices always was great
est at the larynX. No outstanding con-
traltoS were measured, but DR.. RuSSell
sees no reason to believe they would
differ from the others.
The voice Of Gigli, DIR. Russell found,
shows the greatest carrying power
when the sonometer is placed on the
larynx and next to that when 1t Is
from the tip of the chin, the
cheek or back jaw bone, Nobody would
suggest these places as "reSonators," he
saws. Yet all show greater loudnesS
and energy in the tone than whens 1t
is measured from the frontal sinus or
nasal bridge, which are the traditional
places where it picks up its carrying
power The same test results were
obtained in the case OF Ernest Jonn-
son.
Chest Fails on Low Notes.
Practically no reflections on the
sonometer needle could be obtained
IOr very low LOIlcS WHICH, CAlC 4AloOA uAAAChO
was placed over the chest. Measure
ments were obtained when the pitch
rose but at no time were these sufficient
to show that the energy of the tone
was greater after having struck the
sounding boards" of the chest than
when it was emitted from the CLOTHS.
1.-The inherent energy picked up by
the transmitter," DR.. Russell concludes,
was very much greater at the source
of voice production than after the
sound had passed through or struck any
of the head cavities. Practically no de-
Election was noticeable from over the
middle of either lung or even over the
trachea Immediately under the vocal
cord. Yet there was manifest a notice
able difference between the carrying
power of the low-pitched tone and the
high pitched tone picked up immedi-
ately over the trachea. This evidence
would seem to indicate that this tube,
placed under the glottal stimulating
source, may alter the so-called chest
tonal quality. But it does not give 1t
greater carrying power, but only
changes the quality"
It may be decades before the mass
Of evidence required can be compiled
and interpreted, DIR. Russell says. The
work is being conducted comparatively
by the Carnegie Institution and the
American Academy OF Teachers OF
SINGING