r\^nj^ r "^i5 ■-J BOUGHT WITH THB INCOME PROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF 1S91 jll/ltZ^ ^ppSQi. arW37379"™" ""'^'^''^ library T^..y2!ce...: how to train if - how to car olin.anx 3 1924 032 172 458 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032172458 THE VOICE , HOW TO TRAIN IT— HOW TO CARE FOR IT E. B. "WARMAN'S "WORKS. Practical Orthoepy and Critique . Cloth, J2.00 " " " Half Mor. 2.50 " " " Full Mor. 3.00 Warman on the Voice 2,oq How to Read, Recite, and Impersonate . i.oo Physical Training 1. 00 Worcester and Webster School Charts . 8.00 Warman's Series Worcester's School Dic- tionary Half Mor. 1.00 Gestures and Attitudes (Delsarte Phi- losophy) 3.00 IN PRESS. Critical Analysis of Poe's " Raven." What to Read, Recite, and Impersonate. The Voice HOW TO TRAIN IT- HOW TO CARE FOR IT FOR MINISTERS, LECTURERS, READERS, ACTORS, SINGERS, TEACHERS, AND PUBLIC SPEAKERS BY E. B. WARM AN A.M. author of principles of pronunciation in worcester*s dictionary ; how to read, recite, and impersonate; physical training, or the care of the body; practical orthoepy and critique; critical analysis of "poe's raven" Mitt IlIuBtrattons By MARIAN MORGAN REYNOLDS BOSTON LEE AND SHEPARD K Copyright, 1889, By Lee and Shepard. PREFACE. TT is our endeavor to set forth such teachings as will strengthen weak lungs ; inculcate ideas of correct breathing and management of the breath; remove and prevent throat, lung, and bronchial trouble; also re- move and prevent swollen tonsils and elongated uvula, without resorting to the surgeon's knife; strengthen the pillars of the soft palate, thereby removing what is known as "dropping of the palate;" strengthen and invigorate the vocal organs, that they may be used daily, for consecutive hours, without incurring the slightest injury, or causing weariness or hoarseness; and enable one to manage the breath in the produc- tion of tone, thus giving the maximum of power with the minimum of strength. These pages are intended to be of practical benefit to ministers, lecturers, actors, readers, singers, teachers; in fact, to all who use the voice, whether publicly or otherwise. vi Preface Every man should be worthy of his calling; and no less important is it that he should prepare for the proper performance of its duties. This volume deals only with the control of the voice, while its companions, " Gestures and Attitudes," and " Principles of Reading," serve as guides to the other requisites of the public speaker ; namely, control of the body, and control of the thought. That each, in its turn, may serve its purpose, is the desire of THE AUTHOR. Chicago, III., 1889. CONTENTS. fart I. PAGE The Use and Abuse of the Vocal Organs 17 The Doctor 18 The Minister 19 The Lawyer 21 The Actor 22 The Singer 22 The Lecturer 23 The Reader 24 The Teacher 25 Healthfulness 26 Nostrums ■ 27 Ventilation 3° Modulation of the Voice 3' Sustaining Tones 32 ^art II. The Anatomy, Hygiene, and Physiology of the Vocal Organs ... 41 The Nasal Passage 4' The Mouth Passage 41 The Tongue 46 The Hard Palate 46 The Soft Palate 46 The Uvula 46 viii Contents PAGE The Pharynx i . . . 54 The Epiglottis . eg The Larynx r-i The Vocal Chords 57 Throat Contraction 64 The Teacher 64 The Food Passage 67 The Air Passage 67 The Eustachian Tube 68 Diaphragmatic vs. Clavicular Breathing 70 Part III. Incorrect vs. Correct Position 88, 89 Test of Correct Position no Breathing go Position gi Two Methods of securing a Correct Position 93, 95 Active Chest and Diaphragm Action 07 Abdominal Breathing qg Costal Breathing 100 Dorsal Breathing 102 Abdominal, Costal, and Dorsal Breathing 104 Diaphragm Freedom 106 Diaphragm Control 107 The Principle of Diaphragm Control 108 Diaphragm Freedom in Voice Production 109 Diaphragm Control in Voice Production /. . no Supporting the Tone 113, 115 Focussing. — Flexibility 116 Clearness and Flexibility 117 Sustaining Tones 1 18 Vowel Sounds 119 Contents ix PAGE Purity of Tone. — Tossing i2o Purity of Tone. — Blending 121 Clearing (?) the Throat 122 Purity of Tone 123, 124 Focalizing 125, 126 Broadening the Tone 128 Flexibility of the Lips 130 Suppleness of the Lower Jaw 130 Breadth of Tone 132 Volume of Voice 133 Flexibility of the Vocal Organs 134 Elasticity of the Vocal Chords 134 Low Orotund 135 Volume and Loudness Combined 136 Smoothness of Low Notes 137 Low Orotund and Clear Nasal Tone 138 Volume, Loudness, and Clear Nasal Tone 139 Smoothness and Clear Nasal Tone 140 Transition of Tone 141 Flexibility of the Vocal Chords 142 Flexibility of the Vocal Organs 143 Tremolo Tones 144 Medium Tones 146 Sustaining Low Tones 148 Medium Tones for Calling or Shouting 149, 150 Head Tones 151 Explosives 152, 153 Explosives and Sustained Force 154 Blending and Continuity 156-159 Blending vs. Clipping 160-162 Bell Tones, Distant Voices, and Echoes 163 Monotone 164 Finale 166 " Oh, how our organ can speak wHh its many and wonderful voices, — Play on the soft lute of love, blow the loud trumpet of war. Sing with the high sesquialter, or, drawing its full diapason. Shake all the air with the grand storm of its pedals and stops l" ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Anatomy of the Vocal Organs 15 The Vocal Organs Specified 40 Front View of the Soft Palate and Surroundings ... 47 View of the Vocal Chords by Laryngoscope 58 Position of the Vocal Chords : Inhalation and Exhala- tion 59 Position of the Vocal Chords : Low Tones 59 ,, „ „ „ High Tones 59 The Diaphragm 69 Diaphragm Action : Front View 73 „ » 75 „ 77 Side View 79 » » 8i Modern Re-formed Venus de Milo. . 83 Incorrect Position 88 Correct Position 89 Securing a Correct Position 93 » j» u )) ■ • • 95 Action of Chest, Diaphragm, and Waist Muscles .... 97 Abdominal Breathing 99 xii Illustrations PAGE Costal Breathing loi Dorsal Breathing 103 Abdominal, Costal, and Dorsal Breathing 105 Sustaining Tone: Chair 113 „ „ Book 115 Enlarging the Pharynx 127 Depressing the Tongue 129 part fim* THE USE AND THE ABUSE OF THE VOCAL ORGANS. Fig. I. Fig. I represents some of the important structures and organs that are in close relation with the diaphragm, or that co-operate with it in pro- ducing song and speech. The heavy curved line drawn across the lower part of the chest represents the position of the upper curvature of the diaphragm. Below it are shown the lobes of the liver, the stomach, and part of the intestines. Above the diaphragm, a little to the left of the median line, the heart is represented. The lungs are seen filling the chest and communicating with the trachea, which in turn leads into the larynx, or vocal box, and then the air-tract leads on through the pharynx, mouth, and nasal cavities, the last three being the principal resounding cavities for the voice. The whole, with the diaphragm as the foundational floor- ing, the ribs as the framework, and the accessory muscles, which are not shown, forms the vocal and speech mechanism. The Voice. THE USE AND ABUSE OF THE VOCAL ORGANS. " Speech is the temple in which the soul is enshrined." ' I ""HERE is a certain mechanical dexterity to be acquired before the beautiful conceptions we possess can be communicated to others. This mechanism is an essential part of all the fine arts. The golden key to every excellence is practice ; and this can be purchased only by labor — unremitting labor — and perseverance. It is absolutely necessary to be ac- quainted with the power, variety, and extent of the instru- ment through which we convey thoughts to others. " God's greatest gift to man is speech, and it is too solemn a thing to treat lightly. It grows out from life, out of its agonies and ecstasies, its wants and its weariness." It is said, " By their fruits ye shall know them," and it may also truly be said. By' the voice ye shall know them. Not only is this true in the every-day walks of life, but it 1 8 Thb Voice is especially true in the higher walks, — among those who appear before us in the pulpit, on the rostrum, and on the stage. By the eye of an audience are we first measured ; then the ear passes judgment. It is true, attitude and bearing have much to do with the effective rendering of any vocal pro- duction, and no one can be said to be a thorough artist who has not become acquainted with the principles of dramatic expression. " Cleanliness is next to godliness ; " and this is as essen- tial concerning the tone of voice as it is in regard to the body. In this enlightened day we would as soon think of tolerating a speaker with a sluggish, slovenly tone, as we would were he to appear before us with his clothing dis- ordered and his hair unkempt; the one is as repulsive to the ear as is the other to the eye. The functions of the human voice are many. The public man, whether preacher, lecturer, reader, actor, doctor, lawyer, or whosoever or wheresoever he may be, should understand the wonderful power of the human voice. THE DOCTOR. The doctor needs it? Certainly. When he enters the sick-room, his face all radiant, his great manly heart sym- pathetic, his voice (as a natural consequence) full of sweet- The Minister 19 ness and purity, he does more to alleviate the suffering of his patient than can all the drugs that he may leave. But, on the other hand, when a doctor enters the room with clouded brow, himself a victim of dyspepsia and a bad liver (because he is a bad liver), looking on the dark side of everything, his heart all warped, and his voice (also as a natural consequence) snapping, snarling, growling, he too does more for his patient than all the drugs of the universe can counteract. Some may consider that this has nothing to do with the voice, but it is wholly due to the manner of the man. .That 's the point. This cultured voice is sure to be reflex in its action; for culture permeates the whole man. . Some persons enter a room like a gleam of sunshine, others like a thunder-cloud; so some voices attract, others repel. THE MINISTER. The minister too frequently says, " If I possess the Holy Ghost, I need pay no attention to the cultivation of the voice." We will not stop to speak of the many requirements of him who occupies so responsible a position, but will consider briefly that of the voice. The Bible-reading, hymn-reading, the delivery of the sermon, and even the prayer has its 20 The Voice influence on the hearer in just that degree in which he is impressed by the vocal utterances. The Bible stories are famihar to almost all in the congregation, but they become the more intensely interesting as the speaker makes them so. Many a good sermon, intellectually speaking, has been wholly marred by a poor delivery. As we say in our lecture on " Bible-reading and Pulpit Eloquence," every word possesses three forms of life; that is, its ey-e-life, its ear-life, and its soul-life. The eye-life is its orthography, the ear-life is its orthoepy, but the soul-life is its significance or expression. The words of the minister must be so voiced as to convey the latter fully and forcibly ; that is, they must be soul-felt. The voice is a God-given gift. It is a power which God has given to be used to His glory; and the minister can no more neglect its use and cultivation than he can properly neglect any other gift from His hand. The human voice has been made to reach the heart, and to stir it up by its thrilling vibrations. We might as well despise the ear for its office of carrying the sound, as to undervalue the manner in which those sounds are made. It is true " the clergy bear the messages of God in earthen vessels, but that is no reason why they should display their mere earthiness." While volumes might be written on the duties of the minister in his public office, we have only hinted at the The Laivyer 2 1 necessity of voice cultivation, trusting that in this case, as in many others, " a word to the wise is sufficient.'' As a concluding thought to the minister, let it be borne in mind that the truths of the gospel, above all others, should be correctly voiced ; remembering ever that truth, even truth, when repulsively arrayed, will repel rather than attract the hungry soul. THE LAWYER. The lawyer says, " If the judge and jury hear me and T