1891.] 



on the Culture of the Singing Voice. 



335 



the voice is heard, and the second change in the mechanism of the 

 vocal cords occurs. The changes which take place in the larynx at 

 the upper break in the voice of this singer are shown in the next 

 pair. The first photo represents the larynx while singing D, treble 

 clefj fourth line, the note immediately preceding the break, and the 



Fig 4. 



second shows the change which occurred while singing E, the next 

 note above. A very decided change in the mechanism of the vocal 

 cords is apparent. These ligaments have grown higher and narrower, 

 and the chink which in the note before the break can be seen to be 

 linear in shape and quite wide, after the break becomes considerably 

 reduced in both length and width. Not only is the cartilaginous 

 portion of the glottis closed in the note after the break, but also a 

 small portion of the ligamentous glottis immediately adjoining it. 

 The chink appears to be closed to the same extent in front as it was 

 while producing the note immediately preceding it. There is, there- 

 fore, stoj)-closure in front and behind, which leaves a slit in the 

 middle of the glottis measuring a little more than half the length of 

 the vocal cords. In addition to these changes, it may be observed 

 that the epiglottis is depressed and the arytenoid cartilages have 

 again receded. As this is the highest note which this subject is 

 capable of singing with ease, we cannot study the action of the vocal 

 cords in the production of tones in the upper register." 



" It may be remembered that in this larynx the vocal cords increase 

 in length from the low F sharp to the E above. At the next note 

 higher they began to increase in length again until D above was 

 reached, and at E, the note next above, they were again suddenly 

 shortened. It will be instructive to determine the degree to which 

 the vocal cords were lengthened, and at what point in the scale they 

 were longest. We saw that in the lower register the vocal cords 

 were longest in the production of the highest note, and in the middle 



