COMPASS OF THE VOICE. 615 



Application of the Voice in Singing and Speaking. 



The notes of the voice thus produced may observe three 

 different kinds of sequence. The first is the monotonous, 

 in which the notes have nearly all the same pitch as in 

 ordinary speaking ; the variety of the sounds of speech 

 being due to articulation in the mouth. In speaking, how- 

 ever, occasional syllables generally receive a higher intona- 

 tion for the sake of accent. The second mode of sequence 

 is the successive transition from high to low notes, and vice 

 versa, without intervals; such as is heard in the sounds, 

 which, as expressions of passion, accompany crying in men, 

 and in the howling and whining of dogs. The third mode of 

 sequence of the vocal sounds is the musical, in which each 

 sound has a determinate number of vibrations, and the 

 numbers of the vibrations in the successive sounds have 

 the same relative proportions that characterise the notes of 

 the musical scale. 



The compass of the voice in different individuals, compre- 

 hends one, two, or three octaves. In singers, that is, in 

 persons apt for singing it extends to two or three octaves. 

 But the male and female voices commence and end at dif- 

 ferent points of the musical scale. The lowest note of the 

 female voice is about an octave higher than the lowest of 

 the male voice ; the highest note of the female voice about 

 an octave higher than the highest of the male. The com- 

 pass of the male and female voices taken together, or 

 the entire scale of the human voice, includes about four 

 octaves. The principal difference between the male and 

 female voice is, therefore, in their pitch ; but they are 

 also distinguished by their tone, the male voice is not so 

 soft. 



The voice presents other varieties besides that of male 

 and female ; there are two kinds of male voice, technically 

 called the bass and tenor, and two kinds of female voice, 

 the contralto and soprano, all differing from each other in 



