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Show CHAPTER 2 A BRIEF HISTORY OF EXTENDED VOCAL TECHNIQUES The oldest and most widely used musical instrument is the voice. At the same time, in Western music, the techniques associated with the singing voice have changed over the centuries. Alterations in mainstream vocal techniques from the Renaissance to the Romantic period involved mostly stylistic preferences in those respective eras and, some would argue, a continual canto school.' evolving of technique towards the nineteenth century bel Although singing styles, ornaments, and aesthetics may have changed during the years leading to the bel canto school, the voice throughout these years was used as a medium to transmit text. The techniques that were taught increased beauty, clarity and volume to support the voice's unique ability to simultaneously convey words and pitches. Yet, in the twentieth century, the voice would finally be treated as an instrument independent from text, and the colors and capabilities of the voice would be explored and showcased based on the voice's own acoustical merits. This exploration paralleled the expansion of instrumental techniques in the twentieth century, although it occurred at a slower pace. Before the tum of the twentieth century, composers such as Bartok and Strauss were incorporating new techniques into their orchestration, as musical color came to the fore of composers' considerations. 5 Danielle Buonaiuto, "Extended Vocal Techniques: The New Bel Canto?" Internet; accessed 10 available from \VVvw.publish.uwo.ca/tchilcs!test2005.pdf; February, 2009. |
