Jack-Flash-Jr
Falsetto? Castrati?
I know this is falsetto:
(And it rocks ? )
Warren
I can't see the vids from here but surely there are no recordings of any castrati?
Renesongs
Falsetto as in false as in Robert Plant , Axel Rose but not Bob Dylan
domhatch
i'd say those are all falsetto, not only because of how high they can go, but also because of how low they sing. castrati sang in the soprano register, and a soprano's range is from middle c to c6 or higher, i think.
there are a few isolated known recordings of castrati, (i even managed to find an example on wikipedia) but the practice thankfully died out in the late 19th century, so even those that remain are of very low quality.
AlanRatcliffe
It'll be falsetto. Freddy M, Bobby McF and Roy O aside, there aren't many men that can sing in those registers without using their falsetto voice.
@Warren, there are still a few Castrati in opera, but usually due to hormonal problems or deformity of the larynx rather than the traditional methods of making castrati.
Warren
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
@Warren, there are still a few Castrati in opera, but usually due to hormonal problems or deformity of the larynx rather than the traditional methods of making castrati.
Ah, I didn't know that! Will try to hunt down some recordings this weekend.
Jack-Flash-Jr
Thanks... I find the clarity and range in these vocals quite amazing, hard to believe it's falsetto.
The castrati thing was a joke ?
This movie is pretty good if you're interested:
How they did the voice:
Although Dionisi provided the speaking voice, Farinelli's singing voice was provided by a soprano, Ewa Malas-Godlewska and a countertenor, Derek Lee Ragin, who were recorded separately then digitally merged to recreate the sound of a castrato. (Wiki)
PeteM
The Bee Gees and Canned heat are using falsetto and the guy in the Castaways is using head voice mixed with chest voice. Falsetto is breathy whilst head voice is more pure.
Jack-Flash-Jr
PeteM wrote:
The Bee Gees and Canned heat are using falsetto and the guy in the Castaways is using head voice mixed with chest voice. Falsetto is breathy whilst head voice is more pure.
Head voice mixed with chest voice? ???
Jack-Flash-Jr
Some of their other numbers... no "head voice":
At :52:
deefstes
Warren wrote:
Ah, I didn't know that! Will try to hunt down some recordings this weekend.
I remember the first time I heard a recording of a castrato singer I almost wanted to grab my crotch and burst into tears. There's a recording of Alessandro Moreschi on the wikipedia article on castrato which is probably as good as any existing recording of a castrato. It really is a haunting voice.
singemonkey
Let the world hear:
To my ears, not very great at all. But he may have been past his prime when this was recorded. Still sounds quite a lot like an uncastrated man singing in falsetto.
Bob-Dubery
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
It'll be falsetto. Freddy M, Bobby McF and Roy O aside, there aren't many men that can sing in those registers without using their falsetto voice.
@Warren, there are still a few Castrati in opera, but usually due to hormonal problems or deformity of the larynx rather than the traditional methods of making castrati.
The example I think of is jazz vocalist Little Jimmy Scott. He was born with a genetic condition that stunted his growth and prevented him ever reaching puberty. For one record he cut with Miles Davis the credit was erroneously given to the female vocalist who was on hand for the session - nobody thought that it could be a bloke singing and so concluded it must have been the female vocalist.
Jawazable
I know jack sh about this stuff, but I think this will help the debate:
deefstes
My word, I never knew there was that difference.
Jack-Flash-Jr
Nice clip jawazable, thanked!
domhatch
me - confusion = much better place
i always did like equations. thanks for that very enlightening clip man.
Renesongs
+1 Jawazable - I am officially educated - falsetto is the the girlie voice that everyone can do to a better or lesser degree, head voice requires real skill and training. Next question what do you call that high pitched growl or scream if you must that people like Joe Cocker or Janis Joplin were famous for, more importantly how do they do it?
