Describing vocal performance of Portuguese cantadeiras of Alto Minho

Portugal has strong musical traditions, which have been perpetrated by decades through folkloristic activities. In folk groups from Alto Minho (north of Portugal), folk singing is mostly performed by cantadeiras, amateur female solo singers who learn this style orally. Their vocal characteristics are distinctive when compared with other regions of the country; however, deep understanding of these vocal practices is still missing. The present work aims at studying Alto Minho cantadeira’s vocal performance in a multidimensional perspective, envisioning social, cultural and physiological understanding of this musical style. Thus, qualitative and quantitative data analyses were carried out, to: (i) describe current performance practices, (ii) explore existent perceptions about most relevant voice features in this region, (iii) investigate physiological and acoustic properties of this style, and (iv) compare this style of singing with other non-classical singing styles of other countries. Dataset gathered involved: 78 groups whose members were telephone interviewed, 13 directors who were asked to fill in a questionnaire on performance practices, 1 cantadeira in a pilot study, 16 cantadeiras in preliminary voice recordings, 77 folk group members in listening tests, and 10 cantadeiras in multichannel recordings, including audio, ELG, air flow and intra-oral pressure signals. Data were analysed through thematic content analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics, hierarchical principal components, and multivariate linear regression models. Most representative voices have a high pitched and loud voice, with a bright timbre, predominance of chest register without excessive effort, and good text intelligibility with regional accent. High representativeness levels were obtained by few cantadeiras; these sing with high levels of subglottal pressure and vocal fold contact quotient, predominance of high spectrum energy and vocal loudness, corroborating indications of prevalence of pressed phonation. These vocal characteristics resemble belting in musical theatre and share similarities with country (USA) and ojikanje (Croatia) singing. Strategies that may contribute to the preservation of this type of singing and the vocal health of current cantadeiras are discussed, pointing at the direction of continuous education among folk groups, following practices that are already adopted elsewhere in Europe.

Of tradition and conversion : a comparative study of two Phuo griottes

La version intégrale de ce mémoire est disponible uniquement pour consultation individuelle à la Bibliothèque de musique de l’Université de Montréal (www.bib.umontreal.ca/MU).

Ethnomusicologie et esthétique : de la réflexion épistémologique à la recherche de terrain : une étude comparative de la vocalité de tradition orale au sud de l’Italie

La version intégrale de cette thèse est disponible uniquement pour consultation individuelle à la Bibliothèque de musique de l’Université de Montréal (http://www.bib.umontreal.ca/MU).

Enjeux de la cueca chilienne : vocalité et représentations sociales

Cette recherche aborde le chant de la cueca chilienne à travers le spectre de la voix dans la construction de représentations sociales, et ce, sur la base d’une méthodologie mixte qui combine la recherche bibliographique, l’observation participante, les entrevues et l’analyse musicale. Comme point de départ, on remarque la pratique d’une cueca surnommée urbana, brava ou chilenera, caractérisée par un timbre vocal singulier associé au milieu « populaire » des chanteurs. Remontant aux premières traces de la cueca, au Chili, le chapitre 2 aborde les descriptions de la voix de la zamacueca au XIXe siècle publié dans des récits de voyage. L’analyse du contexte dans lequel ces récits se publient permet de constater que l’idée du caractère nasal de la cueca s’associe à la constitution d’altérité. Le chapitre 3 aborde la façon dont une théorie spécifique sur l’origine de la cueca chilienne contribue aux conceptions de la voix dans le genre. Le sujet de la nasalité apparaît encore, cette fois-ci imbriqué dans l’imagination de l’origine arabo-andalouse de la cueca. S’intéressant à la représentation du sujet populaire, le chapitre 4 expose deux figures centrales de la culture chilienne : le huaso et le roto, représentants du paysan et du sujet urbain, tous deux entremêlés avec des discours nationalistes. Le « parler populaire » apparaît représenté dans divers styles de cueca, en produisant des vocalités affectées par l’imagination de la classe sociale, et ce dans le contexte de débats sur l’authenticité. Le chapitre 5 aborde finalement l’expérience vécue par de jeunes chanteurs actifs sur une scène de revitalisation. Leurs dynamiques de chant en groupe soulignent l’impact de la compétition sur le déploiement de la voix. La pratique structurée selon le chant en ronde - chant à la rueda – montrera que la production d’un « bon pito », soit d’une voix adéquate à la cueca, révèle la nécessité d’adapter les voix aux besoins du groupe. La conclusion met en lumière que le rapport entre voix et style se présente comme une correlation cruciale pour comprendre non seulement la diversité des variantes de cuecas existantes à un moment donné, mais également leurs transformations au cours du temps par l’entremise d’un processus de stylisation. Au-delà du style, pourtant, la voix paraît exprimer quelque chose du sujet qui la fait résonner. Par ce biais, les diverses étiquettes accompagnant le terme cueca nous informent sur les caractéristiques ethniques, du genre et de classe des chanteurs, y compris les différentes voix d’un même sujet qui chante.

Fixing the volatile : studio vocal performance techniques

The process of compiling a studio vocal performance from many takes can often result in the performer producing a new complete performance once this new "best of" assemblage is heard back. This paper investigates the ways that the physical process of recording can alter vocal performance techniques, and in particular, the establishing of a definitive melodic and rhythmic structure. Drawing on his many years of experience as a commercially successful producer, including the attainment of a Grammy award, the author will analyse the process of producing a “credible” vocal performance in depth, with specific case studies and examples. The question of authenticity in rock and pop will also be discussed and, in this context, the uniqueness of the producer’s role as critical arbiter – what gives the producer the authority to make such performance evaluations? Techniques for creating conditions in the studio that are conducive to vocal performances, in many ways a very unnatural performance environment, will be discussed, touching on areas such as the psycho-acoustic properties of headphone mixes, the avoidance of intimidatory practices, and a methodology for inducing the perception of a “familiar” acoustic environment.

Impure Thinking Practices and Clinical Acts: The Sonorous Becomings of Heidi Fast

This article introduces the recent sound works of Heidi Fast, a Finnish voice and performance artist. Fast’s creative practice operates between art and philosophy, and articulates several ‘zones of becoming’: what Fast designates as ‘the clinical’, ‘the virtual’ and ‘vocal thought-material’. Using a methodology of routing, the article shows how these zones emerge as aesthetic, ethical and political concerns within Fast’s work. Since 2005, Fast’s sound works have variously taken shape as miniature concerts, social sculptures, imaginary soundscapes and environmental music performances. Drawing upon the writings of theorists who have helped shape her practice, this article argues that Fast uses sound and voice to propose an ‘actualising philosophy’. This philosophy actualises virtualities (unrealised potentials), affecting transformative shifts through tiny mutations in perceptions and behaviours.

Os castrati e a prática vocal no espaço luso-brasileiro (1752-1822)

A presente tese tem como objeto de estudo os castrati em Portugal e no Brasil, visando principalmente às atividades musicais realizadas nos teatros da corte portuguesa entre 1752 e 1822. A partir de documentação histórica inédita, como livros de despesa do governo, os relatos fornecidos por viajantes estrangeiros da época, libretos, partituras originais e correspôndencias, a tese aborda o percurso histórico dos castrati italianos ampliando o entendimento sobre as práticas musicais que esses cantores protagonizaram tanto em Lisboa como no Rio de Janeiro.

Aquecimento e Desaquecimento Vocal em Estudantes de Pedagogia

Introduction: the voice is one of the main features of interaction between teacher and student. As teachers, future teachers are also risk population for the development of dysphonia and may be subject to protective intervention. Purpose: to evaluate the effect of a vocal warm-up and cool-down procedure at Pedagogy students. Method: A quasi-experimental study, pre-posttest without a control group, with fourteen Pedagogy students at a public university, participants of a short course. The analysis was performed by a self-assessment visual analogue scale of 10 cm, considering aspects related to the body and voice. The protocol was implemented in three steps: pre-test, post warm-up and post cool-down, and it was calculated the averages of the variables of discomfort and compared the measurements before and after performing each procedure. It was used the the Wilcoxon signed-rank statiscal test, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: there was less discomfort with statistical significance after the vocal warm-up (p=0.002) and cool-down (p=0.001), with greater magnitude in both aspects related to voice. Conclusions: The vocal warm-up and cool-down have positive effects on the perception of students and should be taught to future teachers in order to prevent vocal disorders. The vocal cool-down, poorly researched, should not be passed over vocal health practices since its purpose showed obvious improvement in the investigated group.

THE ECONOMIC, AESTHETIC, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL VOCAL ENSEMBLES: TOWARD A THEORY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Washington, 2016-06