Ordering events in a time
continuum, and thus linking
discrete sound events
Rhythm, is not a natural kind
Chronobiology
Haptic
Visual
Auditory
Olfactory
Gustatory Perception
Chrono-perception (sense of
time)?
‘Script’
Rhythms of Social Life
Improvisation
Entrainment (being ‘in
phase’ with others)
Making Sounds: the Body as
Instrument
Making Instruments:
Instruments as Prosthetic
Devices
The Human Voice
Song/language
Instrumental
music/dance
Singing
Neanderthals (S.
Mithen)
‘Baby talk’
The Operatic Voice
“Casta Diva,” from Norma,
by Vincenzo Bellini
(1831)
(libretto: Francesco Romani)
Gaul (modern-day France)
Norma, priestess (G. Pasta)
Pollione, Roman General
Medea (Greek tragedy)
Casta Diva, Norma's aria (cavatina) from Norma
Casta Diva, che inargenti
queste sacre antiche piante,
a noi volgi il bel sembiante
senza nube e senza vel...
Tempra, o Diva,
tempra tu de’ cori ardenti
tempra ancora lo zelo audace,
spargi in terra quella pace
che regnar tu fai nel ciel...
O pure Goddess, who silver
These sacred ancient plants,
Turn thy beautiful semblance on us
Unclouded and unveiled...
Temper, o Goddess,
The brave zeal
Of the ardent spirits,
Scatter on the earth the peace
Thou make reign in the sky...
Fine al rito : e il sacro bosco
Sia disgombro dai profani.
Quando il Nume irato e fosco,
Chiegga il sangue dei Romani,
Dal Druidico delubro
La mia voce tuonerà.
Cadrà; punirlo io posso.
(Ma, punirlo, il cor non sa.
Ah! bello a me ritorna
Del fido amor primiero;
E contro il mondo intiero...
Difesa a te sarò.
Ah! bello a me ritorna
Del raggio tuo sereno;
E vita nel tuo seno,
E patria e cielo avrò.
Ah, riedi ancora qual eri allora,
Quando il cor ti diedi allora,
Ah, riedi a me.)
Complete the rite : and the sacred wood
Be clear of the laity.
When the irate and gloomy God
Asks for the Roman’s blood
My voice will thunder
From the Druidic temple.
He will fall; I can punish him
(But my heart is unable to do so).
(Ah! Return to me beautiful
In your first true love ;
I’ll protect you
Against the entire world.
Ah! Return to me beautiful
With your serene ray;
I’ll have life, sky
And homeland in your heart.
Ah, return again as you were then,
When I gave you my heart then,
Ah, come back to me.)
Belcanto
Soprano: Range
(compass or breadth of
pitches)
Ranges: SATB…
Registers of Vocal
Production:
Vocal Fry
Modal Voice
Falsetto
Whistle
Pitch: differential property of
a sound that allows us to
order it along a continuum of
frequencies as being ‘high’ or
‘low’
Vocal Chords
Larynx
Pharynx
Lungs, Diaphragm
Vocal Types
Chest/Head Voice/Falsetto
Color or Tone quality
Expressive and Dramatic
qualities
(Norma: dramatic soprano)
Countertenor
Castrato
Messa di Voce
Portamento
Vibrato
Trill
Coloratura
“Casta Diva” (2)
(Maria Callas, Paris
[1958])