Abstract
THE opening sentences of chap. ii. of this book are as follows: “The whole burden of this book is to show and, if possible, convince the world in general that the vocal cords, situated on the top of the windpipe, in what we call our throat (diagram I.), are not the seat of sound—that is to say, in neither speech nor song do the vocal cords actually create the tone.” We venture to say that no physiologist will support this statement. It is true that sound can be produced by other parts of the apparatus, and without necessarily the presence of the vocal cords, but that the vocal cords vibrate and are the chief agents in producing tones has been proved to the satisfaction of all who study the parts and can employ the laryngoscope. The author is right so far in attributing importance to the sinuses in some of the bones of the face and skull, but he exaggerates their function of acting as resonators to strengthen or modify tone. Over and over again he furnishes what he regards as evidence in support of his thesis, but the conclusion, almost invariably, is in the opposite direction.
The Voice Beautiful in Speech and Song. A Consideration of the Capabilities of the Vocal Cords and their Work in the Art of Tone Production.
By Ernest G. White. (New and enlarged edition of “Science and Singing.”) Pp. viii + 130. (London: J. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd., 1918.) Price 5s. net.
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M., J. The Voice Beautiful in Speech and Song A Consideration of the Capabilities of the Vocal Cords and their Work in the Art of Tone Production . Nature 103, 124 (1919). https://doi.org/10.1038/103124b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/103124b0