MU194 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Neurology, Phonation, Thoracic Diaphragm
Document Summary
Clifton ware chap 1: philosophy of singing. Highly variable, exaggerated, sustained vocal expression humans use for heightened communication. Says the special nature of brain and muscular system allows human to possess a distinct inborn musical ability. Primal singing gesture reflected in normal vocal sounds of infants. Birth cry is sustained vocal tone of variable pitch. Cooing and other sustained babbling from untutored infant responding in natural way to environmental conditions. Original function was to serve as simple valve to prevent contamination of lungs during swallowing. Another evolutionary function was to create thoracic pressure for acts like lifting, defecation and childbirth. Took thousands of years for larynx to be gradually coordinated with mind and body into instrument capable of producing highly sophisticated levels of speech and singing. Some cultures historically confined vocal music expression to primal means. Others have demonstrates more advanced levels of vocal music techniques. Singing requires training and development of many complex skills.
