234 THE VOICE. 



the voice is about two octavos; but this is exceeded in the 

 case of several celebrated vocalists. Madame Parepa-Rosa 

 has a compass of three full octaves. When the vocal or- 

 gans have been subjected to careful training, and are 

 brought under complete control of the will, the tension 

 of the cords become exact, and their vibrations become 

 exceedingly precise and true. Under these circumstances 

 the voice is said to possess "purity" of tone, and can be 

 heard at a great distance, and above a multitude of other 

 sounds. The power of a pure voice to make itself heard 

 was recently exemplified in a striking manner : at a musi- 

 cal festival held in an audience-room of extraordinary size, 

 and amid an orchestra of a thousand instruments and a 

 chorus of twelve thousand voices, the artist named above 

 also sang ; yet such was the purity and strength of her 

 voice that its notes could be clearly heard rising above the 

 vast waves of sound produced by the full accompaniment 

 of chorus and orchestra. 



14. In the production of the articulate sounds of speech, 

 the larynx is not directly concerned, but those sounds 

 really depend upon alterations in the shape of the air- 

 passages above that organ. That speech is not necessarily 

 due to the action of the larynx is proven by the following 

 simple experiment. Let an elastic tube be passed through 

 the nostril to the back of the mouth. Then, while the 

 breath is held, cause the tongue, teeth, and lips to go 

 through the form of pronouncing words, and at the same 

 time, let a second person blow through the tube into the 

 mouth. Speech, pure and simple, or, in other words, a 

 whisper is produced. Still further continue the experi- 

 ment, while permitting vocal sounds to be made, and there 

 will be produced a loci and whispering speech at the same 

 moment; thus showing that voice and speech are the re- 

 sult of two distinct acts. Sighing, in like manner, is pro- 



1 4. The production of the articulate sounds ? What experiment is mentioned . 



