REACHING FOR THE HIGH NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 9

REACHING FOR THE HIGH NOTES.

By Italo Campanini. If nature has endowed a singer with the power of producing high notes they will be sung spontaneously. Otherwise, they will neither be agreeable in quality or tone. All singers are not alike. Their voices are pitched in different registers. Some are pitched high, others low, and a great many medium. If a singer, not naturally endowed with a high register, attempts to sing beyond his or her capacity by forcing the voice, he or she is in danger of injuring, the voice. Any one possessed of a good voice may by study and culture produce higher notes than they could otherwise hope to do, but no professor of music, no matter how eminent, ever created a voice where it did not previously exist. Great singers are horn, not made. Too much study ruins the voice. Practice frequently, but not too much. If you practice consecutive hours the throat becomes weak or stiff. Practice for a short time, then rest and practice again. As far as I am concerned, I never think about how I produce my highest notes. With the breath in fuH or complete control, the highest notes may be produced without conscious

effort. The breath should sustain the sound which is produced by the vibration of the vocal chords. It is the breath that should hold up the voice in a smooth, easy manner. The throat should never be contracted. The natural singer stretches the vocal chords without knowing what he does. The best illustration I can think of in regard to the importance of properly using the breath is in singing the mezza-voce, or half-voice. In order to properly sing it and make it carrp a long distance, one is obliged to employ double the amount of breath, although the sounds produced are exceedingly soft. Many singers have temporarily strained their voices by trying to do too much. If the voice is naturally high, no matter what the pitch may be, the singing will be pleasant and agreeable to the ear. If, however, a singer tries to do too much the effect will be similar to a man who endeavours to. walk up two steps at a time when he is only able to make one. It will prove ruinous. Do not strain your voice, or you may lose it.