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13 Influence of Emotional Expression, Loudness 2012
13 Influence of Emotional Expression, Loudness 2012
Summary: Objectives. Vibrato is considered one of the most essential characteristics of the classical singing voice.
Vibrato can be acoustically described by the rate, extent, onset, and regularity. The aim of this study was to determine the
influence of emotional expression on acoustic parameters of vibrato in classically trained singers.
Study Design. A prospective cohort study was performed.
Methods. Thirty healthy classical singers were recruited for this study, 29 singers met inclusion criteria. Inclusion cri-
teria for this study were as follow: 1) no history of vocal pathology in the past year, 2) to have at least 5 years of classical
singing training. Each subject was asked to sing the phrase ‘‘I Love You,’’ while expressing four different emotions (ten-
derness, anger, happiness, and sadness) and without emotion (neutral state). The musical tonality of the phrase was adapt-
ed to each singer’s vocal classification. Subjects were also recorded at three levels of loudness (pianissimo, mezzo forte,
and fortissimo), while expressing each emotion. Acoustical analysis was performed during the vowel /o/ of the word
‘‘Love’’ to determine rate of vibrato, the extent of vibrato, and vibrato jitter.
Results. Vibrato parameters did not vary significantly when different emotions were expressed. However, vibrato jit-
ter and extent did vary significantly between different levels of loudness. Significant differences were also noted in both
rate and extent of vibrato when compared between sexes.
Conclusions. Expression of emotions does not affect the acoustic parameters of vibrato, although some parameters
are affected by loudness and gender.
Key Words: Vibrato–Emotion–Singing voice–Acoustical analysis.
FIGURE 2. Spectrogram showing the highest harmonic available that shows a clear and strong vibrato trace without any overlap from adjacent
harmonics.
Marco A. Guzman, et al Influence of Emotional Expression on Acoustic Parameters of Vibrato 675.e7
FIGURE 3. Isolated highest harmonic available to get values of rate, extent, and vibrato jitter.
FIGURE 4. Vibrato rate (mean ± standard error) for the five emo-
tional states was unchanged by emotion (ANOVA, P ¼ 0.941; n ¼ 86 FIGURE 5. Vibrato jitter for the five emotional states also was un-
per emotion). changed by emotion (P ¼ 0.267).
675.e8 Journal of Voice, Vol. 26, No. 5, 2012
TABLE 1.
Vibrato Characteristics Did Not Vary by Emotion
Emotion (n ¼ 86)
TABLE 2.
The Three Loudness Levels Did Not Affect Vibrato Characteristics Equally
Loudness (n ¼ 145)
TABLE 3.
Gender Altered Rate and Extent, But Not Jitter
Gender
FIGURE 9. Women are depicted in the dark bars (n ¼ 254) and men of vibrato extent was 67 cents for male and 79 cents for female
in the light bars (n ¼ 180). As shown in the left panel, gender altered singers. This difference was statistically significant.
vibrato rate (t test, P < 0.0005) but not jitter (right panel; P ¼ 0.865). There are limitations to our study. Most importantly, we can
N refers to the number of measurements used for comparison, not only test acted or feigned emotions. We depend on the acting
the number of vocalists. ability of our subjects to express each emotion. Furthermore,
the participants are asked to express the emotion through a sim-
these studies were performed with vocal jitter (not vibrato jit- ple musical phrase with the words ‘‘I Love You.’’ Perhaps, lon-
ter), the acoustic principle is the same and therefore both, vi- ger passages or known operatic arias would demonstrate more
brato jitter and vocal jitter could be compared. In addition, it variability in the investigated parameters. Having each sing the
is important to note that in the present study none of the partic- same words and musical line, however, likely is more appropri-
ipants produced a pressed voice during fortissimo or breathy ate for data analysis. In any case, this is the first study involving
voice during pianissmo. Therefore, it could be possible to as- a large sample size with multiple vocal classifications to look at
sume that the regularity of the vibrato modulations is higher the effect of emotion on vibrato.
(low vibrato jitter) when there is more vocal adduction without
resulting in a pressed voice and regularity is lower (high vibrato
CONCLUSIONS
jitter) when there is less vocal adduction without resulting in
The expression of emotions does not appear to impact the
a breathy voice.
acoustic parameters of vibrato. Loudness effects vibrato extent
Gender significantly affected vibrato rate and extent in this
and jitter, whereas vibrato rate and extent are affected by
study. Female singers had higher rate values and greater extent.
gender.
Shipp et al26 reported that female singers tend to have a slightly
faster mean vibrato rate than male singers. Five male and five
Acknowledgments
female professional opera singers were analyzed. All subjects
Special thanks to Dr Ruth Savoy-Moore (St. John Hospital and
went through the same protocol singing sustained vowels.
Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan); Suzanne Acton (MOT
The average rate of vibrato was 5.4 Hz for male singers and
Opera House and Rackham Symphony Choir, Michigan);
5.9 Hz for female singers. In our study, the average rate of vi- Dr B. Augustus Hill (Brazeal Dennard Choral, Detroit, Mich-
brato was 5.2 Hz. for male singers and 5.8 Hz for female singers
igan); Dr B. Emery Stephens (Wayne State University, Detroit,
(slightly larger difference). Similar results were found in a study
Michigan); and Prof. John-Paul White (Oakland University,
with nonprofessional choir singers.44 Vibrato rate was higher
Michigan).
for women than men, suggesting that this difference between
genders is not necessarily related to the level of vocal training.
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