Chant carves the voice

 

We humans learn by imitation. Hearing a human voice naked, i.e. not enhanced by digitalization (microphone or recording), or not dressed up by instruments, allows our brain to feel what our “singing hardware“ must imitate. If all we hear is canned music (digitalized), our imitation skills become useless to teach us how to sing.

The “phrasing” of tones gives music its expressiveness, and its beauty. Music is a language. If you can speak phrases, consider it a good place to start making music. That is what chant is: words put into music. Actually, the Word put into music.

Download here some wisdom about singing (not mine!): Quotes from Lamperti and McRae

Not unlike the growing availability of GPS diminished our ability to read a map and our sense of orientation, I believe that the lack of a-cappella singing, the overwhelming use of percussive instruments (like the piano), of metered music (1-2-3-4) and of microphones in choirs are altogether diminishing our natural ability to develop our singing voice, and our musicianship.

For a deeper look into the theology of “the voice”, visit: Singing the Mass – session 1

More questions about chant? click here
 

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