The mechanism of the human voice


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ABSTRACT THE object of this little book is to give singers a plain and comprehensible view of the musical instrument on which they perform. The author seems to have succeeded in this attempt


remarkably well. He has evidently had much practical work himself, and has especially set himself the task of examining the action of the vocal organs during singing by means of the


laryngoscope, and his record of his own experience in acquiring the use of that beautiful instrument is not only interesting but of much practical value. The last section of the book is


devoted to the teachings of the laryngoscope, as to the action of the vocal ligaments in producing voice, with especial reference to the so-called registers. “A register consists of a series


of tones which are produced by the same mechanism,” is his definition (p. 71), which is new and complete, and he proceeds to explain the different mechanism of each kind of register as


actually observed on singers. There are some good remarks on breathing (pp. 17–22). All information is given throughout in clear, intelligible language, and illustrated by fourteen woodcuts


(not all original), which are purposely rather diagrammatic in character, in order not to confuse the eye with too many details at a time, but every essential point is gradually introduced.


The author seems to have been diligent in the consultation of authorities as well as in practical work of his own, and the book may be safely recommended to all singers, and others who are


desirous of knowing how vocal tones are produced. _The Mechanism of the Human Voice_. By Emil Behnke, Lecturer on Vocal Physiology at the Tonic Sol-fa College. (London: J. Curwen and Sons,


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support RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE _The Mechanism of the Human Voice_ . _Nature_ 22, 239–240 (1880).


https://doi.org/10.1038/022239a0 Download citation * Issue Date: 15 July 1880 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/022239a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able


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