328 THE VOICE 



becomes masculine in character. During the progress of this 

 change, the use of the voice in singing is injudicious. 



13. The ordinary range of each of the four varieties of the 

 voice is about two octaves ; but this is exceeded in the case of 

 several celebrated singers. Madame Parepa Rosa had a com- 

 pass of three full octaves. When the vocal organs have been 

 subjected to careful training, and are brought under complete 

 control of the will, the tension of the cords becomes 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. Some years ago the power of a 

 pure voice to make itself heard was exemplified in a strik- 

 ing manner at a musical festival held in an audience-room of 

 extraordinary size ; and amid an orchestra of a thousand instru- 

 ments 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. (Read Note 3.) 



3. The Benefits of Vocal Exercise. " Reading aloud and recitation 

 are more useful and invigorating musical exercises than is generally imag- 

 ined, at least when managed with due regard to the natural powers of the 

 individual, so as to avoid effort and fatigue. Both require the varied 

 activity of most of the muscles of the trunk to a degree of which few are 

 conscious, till their attention is turned to it. In forming and undulating 

 the voice, not only the chest, but also the diaphragm and abdominal 

 muscles are in constant action, and communicate to the stomach and 

 bowels a healthy and agreeable stimulus ; and consequently, where the 

 voice is raised and elocution rapid, as in many kinds of public speaking, 

 the muscular effort comes to be even more fatiguing than the mental. 

 When care is taken, however, not to carry reading aloud so far at one 

 time as to excite the least sensation of soreness or fatigue in the chest, 

 and it is duly repeated, it is extremely useful in developing and giving 

 tone to the organs of respiration, and to the general system. To the 

 invigorating effects of this kind of exercise, the celebrated Cuvier was in 

 the habit of ascribing his own exemption from consumption, to which, at 

 the time of his appointment to a professorship, it was believed he would 

 otherwise have fallen a sacrifice. The exercise of lecturing gradually 



18. The range of the voice ? Kesult of careful training of the vocal organs ? 



