The Child-Voice in Singing | Page 3

results of these observations are of the greatest value.
Still, as before said, the laryngoscope does not reveal all the secrets of
voice-production. While it tells unerringly of any departure from the
normal, or of pathological change in the larynx, it does not tell whether
the larynx belongs to the greatest living singer or to one absolutely
unendowed with the power of song. Also, the subject of vocal registers
is as vexing to-day as ever.
While, then, we may confidently expect further and more complete

elucidation of the physiology of the voice, there is yet sufficient data to
guide us safely in vocal training, if we neglect not the empirical rules
which the accumulated experience of the past has established.
The organ by which the singing-voice is produced is the larynx. It
forms the upper extremity of the windpipe, which again is the upper
portion and beginning of the bronchial tubes, which, extending
downward, branch off from its lower part to either side of the chest and
continually subdivide until they become like little twigs, around which
cluster the constituent parts of the lungs, which form the bellows for
the supply of air necessary to the performance of vocal functions.
Above, the larynx opens into the throat and the cavities of the pharynx,
mouth, nose, and its accessory cavities, which constitute the resonator
for vocal vibrations set up within the larynx.
The larynx itself consists of a framework of cartilages joined by elastic
membranes or ligaments, and joints. These cartilages move freely
toward and upon each other by means of attached muscles. Also the
larynx as a whole can be moved in various directions by means of
extrinsic muscles joined to points above and below.
The vocal bands are two ligaments or folds of mucous membrane
attached in front to the largest cartilage of the larynx, called the thyroid,
and which forms in man the protuberance commonly called Adam's
apple; and, extending horizontally backward, are inserted posteriorly
into the arytenoid cartilages, the right vocal band into the right
arytenoid cartilage and the left band into the left cartilage. These
arytenoid cartilages, by means of an articulation or joint, move freely
upon the cricoid, the second large cartilage of the larynx, forming its
base, and sometimes called the ring cartilage, from its resemblance in
shape to a seal ring. The vocal bands are composed of numberless
elastic fibres running in part parallel to each other, and in part
interwoven in various directions with each other. The fibres also vary
in length; some are inserted into the extending projections, called
processes of the arytenoid cartilages, and some extend further back and
are inserted into the body of the cartilages. The vocal bands, then, lie
opposite each other, on a level, raised a little in front, and with a narrow

slit between, called the glottis.
The muscles controlling the action of the vocal bands, and which
regulate the mechanism producing sound, are of three groups, viz.,
abductors (drawing-apart muscles), adductors (drawing-together
muscles), and tensors.
The abductors act to keep the bands apart during respiration, while the
function of the adductors and tensors is to bring the bands into position
for speech or singing. They are, since phonation is at will, voluntary
muscles; but it is an interesting fact that the laryngeal muscles of either
side invariably act together. It has been shown that it is not possible to
move one vocal cord without the other at the same time executing the
same movement. It is thus shown that the laryngeal muscles are, to a
less extent, under the control of the will than are those of either hand or
eye. The rational training of the singing-voice cannot, therefore,
proceed upon any theory based upon the voluntary training of the
muscles controlling the movements of the vocal cords.
The mucous membrane which lines the larynx is liberally supplied with
secreting glands, whose function is to keep the parts moist. Above the
vocal bands, another pair of membranous ligaments are stretched across
the larynx forming, with its sides and the vocal bands, a pouch or
pocket. The upper ligaments are sometimes called the false vocal cords,
but are more properly termed ventricular bands. Their function has
occasioned much speculation, but whatever modification of tone they
may be supposed to produce, they no doubt protect the true vocal bands
and permit their free vibration. The larynx, in the production of sound,
may be compared to an organ-pipe. The two vocal cords which act
simultaneously and are anatomically alike, when set in vibration by the
blast of air coming from the lungs, correspond to the reed of the
organ-pipe; the vibration of the cords, producing sound, which is
communicated to the air enclosed in the cavities of the chest and head.
Pitch of tone is determined by the rapidity