Ingressive Phonation in Contemporary Vocal Music, Works by Helmut Lachenmann, Georges Aperghis, Michael Baldwin, and Nicholas
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© 2012 Amanda DeBoer Bartlett All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers, Advisor The use of ingressive phonation (inward singing) in contemporary vocal music is becoming more frequent, yet there is limited research on the physiological demands, risks, and pedagogical requirements of the various ingressive phonation techniques. This paper will discuss ingressive phonation as it is used in contemporary vocal music. The research investigates the ways in which ingressive phonation differs acoustically, physiologically, and aesthetically from typical (egressive) phonation, and explores why and how composers and performers use the various ingressive vocal techniques. Using non-invasive methods, such as electroglottograph waveforms, aerodynamic (pressure, flow, flow resistance) measures, and acoustic analyses of recorded singing, specific data about ingressive phonation were obtained, and various categories of vocal techniques were distinguished. Results are presented for basic vocal exercises and tasks, as well as for specific excerpts from the repertoire, including temA by Helmut Lachenmann and Ursularia by Nicholas DeMaison. The findings of this study were applied to a discussion surrounding pedagogical and aesthetic applications of ingressive phonation in contemporary art music intended for concert performance. Topics of this discussion include physical differences in the production and performance of ingressive phonation, descriptive information regarding the various techniques, as well as notational and practical recommendations for composers. iv This document is dedicated to: my husband, Tom Bartlett my parents, John and Gail DeBoer and my siblings, Mike, Matt, and Leslie DeBoer Thank you for helping me laugh through the process – at times ingressively – and for supporting me endlessly. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I have endless gratitude for my advisor and committee chair, Dr. Jane Schoonmaker Rodgers. You have an unparalleled understanding of vocal pedagogy and a true passion for singing. Thank you for guiding toward a deeper understanding of the voice, and for always keeping the health and preservation of the vocal instrument at the forefront of our discussion. This project would not be possible without the assistance and tutelage of Dr. Ron Scherer, who directed the research study and exhibited a truly masterful knowledge of laryngeal function. Thank you for your patience, supervision, and dedication to research methods. You have imparted in me a greater understanding of the voice and a love of research. To Brittany Frazer, for all of the extra time and advice you offered throughout this process, you were an incredible help during this process, and will be an amazing asset to the research world. My committee was so wonderfully thoughtful and patient during this entire process. Thank you for your time and effort in helping me achieve my goals! vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ........ .................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1. AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF INGRESSIVE PHONATION ......................... 3 1.1 A SURVEY OF RESARCH ON INGRESSIVE PHONATION .................................... 3 1.2 METHOD………………………………….. .................................................................. 14 1.3 RESULTS……………………………………. .............................................................. 23 1.4 DISCUSSION……………………………………. ........................................................ 48 CHAPTER 2. THE USE OF INGRESSIVE PHONATION IN CONTEMPORARY VOCAL MUSIC ................................................................................. 53 2.1 THE HISTORICAL USE OF INGRESSIVE PHONATION ......................................... 53 2.2 PEDAGOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS OF INGRESSIVE PHONATION .................. 72 2.3 COMPOSING WITH INGRESSIVE PHONATION ..................................................... 81 2.4 IMPLICATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR PERFORMERS AND COMPOSERS ......................................................................... 90 CHAPTER 3. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................... 96 REFERENCES ............ .................................................................................................................... 100 APPENDIX I. HSRB APPROVAL LETTER ................................................................................... 105 vii LIST OF FIGURES/TABLES Figure/Table Page 1 Figure 1.2a: from temA by Helmut Lachenmann ...................................................... 17 2 Figure 1.2b: “Scene 18” from Ursularia by Nicholas DeMaison ......................................... 18 3 Figure 1.2c: Vocal Tasks ...................................................................................................... 21 4 Example 1.3.a1. Spectrogram of egressive phonation major triad arpeggios on [a] vowel beginning on D4 and G4 ................................................................................................... 24 5 Example 1.3.a2. EGG for egressive phonation major triad arpeggios on [a] vowel beginning on D4 and G5. EGG is taken from A4. The top trace is the EGG signal and the bottom trace is the derivative of the EGG signal. ......................................................... 25 6 Example 1.3.a3. EGG for egressive phonation major triad arpeggios on [a] vowel beginning on D4 and G4: EGG of D5 ............................................................................ 25 7 Example 1.3.b1: Spectrogram of ingressive phonation major triad arpeggios on [a] vowel beginning on D4 and G4 ................................................................................................... 26 8 Example 1.3.b2: EGG for ingressive phonation major triad arpeggios on [a] vowel beginning on D4 and G5. EGG is taken from A4. ........................................................ 26 9 Example 1.3.b3: EGG for ingressive phonation major triad arpeggios on [a] vowel beginning on D4 and G5. EGG is taken from D5. ......................................................... 27 10 Example 1.3.c1: Spectrogram of egressive phonation [a] vowel through entire range.27 viii 11 Example 1.3.c2: EGG of egressive phonation [a] vowel through entire range obtained at the indication of the arrow in example 1.3.c1. ............................................................... 28 12 Example 1.3.d1: Spectrogram of ingressive phonation [a] vowel through entire range. 28 13 Example 1.3.d2: EGG of ingressive phonation [a] vowel through entire range obtained at the indication of the arrow in example 1.3.d1. .............................................................. 29 14 Example 1.3.e1: Spectrogram of egressive vocal fry formant glissando. .................. 31 15 Example 1.3.e2: EGG of egressive vocal fry formant glissando [o] vowel .............. 31 16 Example 1.3.e3: EGG Egressive phonation vocal fry glissando [a] vowel ................ 32 17 Example 1.3.e4: EGG Egressive phonation vocal fry glissando [æ] vowel ............... 32 18 Example 1.3.f1: Spectrogram of ingressive vocal fry formant glissando ................... 33 19 Example 1.3.f2: EGG of ingressive vocal fry formant glissando [ae] vowel ............ 33 20 Example 1.3.f3: EGG of ingressive vocal fry formant glissando [a] vowel .............. 34 21 Example 1.3.f4: EGG of ingressive vocal fry formant glissando [o] vowel .............. 34 22 Example 1.3.g1: Spectrogram of excerpt from temA by Helmut Lachenmann. ....... 35 23 Example 1.3.g2: EGG of excerpt from temA by Helmut Lachenmann: Ingressive D5 35 24 Example 1.3.g3: EGG of excerpt from temA by Helmut Lachenmann: Egressive D 36 25 Example 1.3.g4: Score excerpt of temA by Helmut Lachenmann ............................... 36 ix 26 Example 1.3.h1: Spectrogram of egressive messe di voce singing A4 on [a] vowel and using [pæ] syllable ............................................................................................................. 37 26 Example 1.3.h2: EGG of egressive messe di voce singing A4 on [a] vowel ................ 37 27 Example 1.3.i1: Spectrogram of ingressive messe di voce singing A4 on [a] vowel and using [pæ] syllable ............................................................................................................. 38 28 Example 1.3.i2: EGG of ingressive messe di voce singing A4 on [a] vowel ............ 38 29 Example 1.3.j1: Egressive vocal fry using [a] vowel .................................................... 40 30 Example 1.3.j2: Ingressive vocal fry using [a] vowel .................................................. 40 31 Table 1.3.a: Comparative chart: averages of [pæ] vocal tasks between egressive and ingressive phonation .......................................................................................................... 45 32 Example 1.3.l1: Subglottal pressure comparison: Egressive vs. Ingressive phonation 46 33 Example 1.3.l2: Mean Flow Comparison: Egressive vs. Ingressive phonation ......... 46 34 Table 1.3.b: Averages of [pæ] vocal tasks between octaves ....................................... 47 35 Example 1.3.m1: Flow resistance comparison for egressive and ingressive phonation 47 36 Example: “Scene 18” from Ursularia by Nicholas DeMaison .................................... 63 37 Example: Without Words (2012) by Aaron Einbond ................................................... 66 38 Example: Performance notes for Without Words by Aaron Einbond (2012) ............. 67 39 Example: Various Terrains (≡ Degrees of Similarity)