Voice classification and vocal tract of singers: a study of x-ray images and morphology

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Friederike Roers - , Carl Maria von WeberCollege of Music, Dresden (Author)
  • Dirk Mürbe - , Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Author)
  • Johan Sundberg - (Author)

Abstract

This investigation compares vocal tract dimensions and the classification of singer voices by examining an x-ray material assembled between 1959 and 1991 of students admitted to the solo singing education at the University of Music, Dresden, Germany. A total of 132 images were available to analysis. Different classifications' values of the lengths of the total vocal tract, the pharynx, and mouth cavities as well as of the relative position of the larynx, the height of the palatal arch, and the estimated vocal fold length were analyzed statistically, and some significant differences were found. The length of the pharynx cavity seemed particularly influential on the total vocal tract length, which varied systematically with classification. Also studied were the relationships between voice classification and the body height and weight and the body mass index. The data support the hypothesis that there are consistent morphological vocal tract differences between singers of different voice classifications.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)503-12
Number of pages10
JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Volume125
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2009
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 58649105303

Keywords

Keywords

  • Adolescent, Adult, Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging, Female, Humans, Larynx/diagnostic imaging, Male, Occupations, Pharynx/diagnostic imaging, Radiography, Speech, Trachea/diagnostic imaging, Vocal Cords/physiology, Voice Quality, Young Adult