Journal of Voice
Volume 23, Issue 5 , Pages 546-551, September 2009

Articulatory Configuration and Pitch in a Classically Trained Soprano Singer

  • Johan Sundberg

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to Johan Sundberg, PhD, KTH Voice Research Centre, Department of Speech Music & Hearing, KTH, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.

Department of Speech Music & Hearing, School of Computer Science and Communication, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden

Accepted 5 February 2008. published online 27 May 2008.

Summary 

Previous studies suggest that singers modify articulation to avoid that the pitch frequency F0 exceeds the normal value of the first formant F1Normal. Using magnetic resonance imaging at a rate of 5 frames/s, articulation was analyzed in a professional soprano singing an ascending triad pattern from C4 to G5 (262–784Hz) on the vowels /i, e, u, o, a/. Lip and jaw opening and tongue dorsum height were measured and analyzed as function of pitch. Four or five semitones below the pitch where F0=F1Normal the tongue dorsum height was reduced in /i, e, u, a/, whereas in /o/ the lip opening was widened and in /a/ also the jaw opening was widened. At higher pitches, the jaw opening was widened in all vowels. These articulatory maneuvers are likely to raise F1 in these vowels.

Key Words: Singing, Articulation, Lip opening, Jaw opening, Tongue shape, High-pitched singing, Formant frequencies

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PII: S0892-1997(08)00026-X

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2008.02.003

Journal of Voice
Volume 23, Issue 5 , Pages 546-551, September 2009