title: Articulatory configuration and pitch in a classically trained soprano singer.
abstract: Previous studies suggest that singers modify articulation to avoid that the pitch frequency F0 exceeds the normal value of the first formant F1(Normal). Using magnetic resonance imaging at a rate of 5 frames/s, articulation was analyzed in a professional soprano singing an ascending triad pattern from C4 to G5 (262-784Hz) on the vowels /i, e, u, o, a/. Lip and jaw opening and tongue dorsum height were measured and analyzed as function of pitch. Four or five semitones below the pitch where F0=F1(Normal) the tongue dorsum height was reduced in /i, e, u, a/, whereas in /o/ the lip opening was widened and in /a/ also the jaw opening was widened. At higher pitches, the jaw opening was widened in all vowels. These articulatory maneuvers are likely to raise F1 in these vowels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech Music & Hearing, School of Computer Science and Communication, KTH Voice Research Centre, SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden. pjohan@speech.kth.se
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundberg
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000502:physiology; D008046:Lip / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology*; D009146:Music; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology*; D010700:Phonetics; D012984:Software; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D014059:Tongue / Q000502:physiology; D014831:Voice; D014834:Voice Training