This study concerns itself with the changing characteristics of singing within popular music. It does so by examining 100 of the most successful songs – “most successful” denoting the top selling songs, or the songs with the highest chart positions – of the last 100 years, selecting 10 songs from each decade. All 100 songs were analyzed with regards to the vocal range the singer sang in; the range between the bottommost note and the topmost note was measured (referred to as ”låtomfång”). Here it was found that the overall range shrunk and lowered during the first half of the 20th century, and then expanded and rose during the second half.  The use of physically produced vocal effects – such as distortion or breathy voice – of the 20 most popular songs (two from each decade) was also examined. Here it was found that the presence of vocal effects in the popular music analyzed in this study has developed along a similar curve to that of the vocal ranges. This means that an overall decrease of the use of vocal effects happened until the mid 20th century, whereas an overall densification of the presence vocal effects took place during the second half of the 20th century. It would also seem that the types of vocal effects more commonly used in current popular music is less associated with classical singing than the vocal effects that were in use in older popular music.

The technique of �open throat� is a pedagogical concept transmitted through the oral tradition of singing. This thesis explored the pedagogical perceptions and practices of �open throat� using empirical methodologies to assess technical skill and associated vocal quality. In the first study (Mitchell, Kenny, Ryan, & Davis, 2003), we assessed the degree of consensus amongst singing pedagogues regarding the definition of, and use in the singing studio of the technique called �open throat.� Results indicated that all fifteen pedagogues described �open throat� technique as fundamental to singing training and were positive about the sound quality it achieved, especially in classical singing. It was described as a way of maximising pharyngeal space or abducting the false vocal folds. Hypotheses generated from pedagogical beliefs expressed in this first study were then tested acoustically (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004a, 2004b). Six advanced singing students sang in two conditions: �optimal� (O), using maximal open throat, �sub-optimal� (SO), using reduced open throat and loud sub-optimal (LSO) to control for the effect of loudness. From these recordings, acoustic characteristics of vibrato (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004b) and energy distribution (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004a) were examined. Subsequent investigations of the vibrato parameters of rate, extent and onset, revealed that extent was significantly reduced and onset increased when singers did not use the technique. As inconsistent vibrato is considered indicative of poor singing, it was hypothesized that testing the energy distribution in these singers� voices in each condition would identify the timbral changes associated with open throat. Visual inspection of long term average spectra (LTAS) confirmed differences between O and SO, but conventional measures applied to long term average spectra (LTAS), comparing energy peak height [singing power ratio (SPR)] and peak area [energy ratio (ER)] were not sensitive to the changes identified through visual inspection of the LTAS. These results were not consistent with the vibrato findings and suggest that conventional measures of SPR and ER are not sufficiently sensitive to evaluate LTAS. In the fourth study, fifteen expert listeners consistently and reliably identified the presence of open throat technique with 87% accuracy (Mitchell & Kenny, in press). In the fifth study, LTAS measurements were examined with respect to the perceptual ratings of singers. There was no relationship between perceptual rankings of vocal beauty and acoustic rankings of vocal quality (Kenny & Mitchell, 2004, in press). There is a vast literature of spectral energy definitions of good voice but the studies in this thesis have indicated that current acoustic methods are limited in defining vocal quality. They also suggest that current work in singing has not sufficiently incorporated perceptual ratings and descriptions of sound quality or the relationship between acoustic and perceptual factors with pedagogical practices.

Detta examensarbete handlar om hårdrockssångares medvetenhet när det gäller sångteknik. Syftet med arbetet är att få kunskap om vilka tillvägagångssätt de har använt sig av när de skapat sitt sound och hittat sin teknik. Den teoretiska utgångspunkten för studien är det sociokulturella perspektivet. Tidigare forskning inom området behandlar traditionell röstlära, mer moderna sångskolor och socialkulturella normer gällande inlärning. Jag har använt mig av den kvalitativa forskningsintervjun som metod och mina informanter är verksamma inom området. Resultatet visar att hårdrockssångare är väl medvetna om traditionell röstlära, nya rön och vikten av att vårda sin röst. Diskussionen belyser att förebilder är viktiga för framgång. / This is a study about heavy rock singer´s awareness of vocal techniques. The intention of the study is to achieve knowledge of which approach they have used to create and find their own technique. The theoretical point of the study is the sociocultural theory. Earlier studies on the subject are about the traditional voice teachings, modern voice schools and the sociocultural behaviour according to the learning process. I have used qualitative interviews, and my informants are professional heavy rock singers. The result shows that heavy rock singers are well aware of traditional voice teachings, new findings and the importance of taking care of the voice. The discussion enlightens that idols and role models are important in term of success.

The technique of �open throat� is a pedagogical concept transmitted through the oral tradition of singing. This thesis explored the pedagogical perceptions and practices of �open throat� using empirical methodologies to assess technical skill and associated vocal quality. In the first study (Mitchell, Kenny, Ryan, & Davis, 2003), we assessed the degree of consensus amongst singing pedagogues regarding the definition of, and use in the singing studio of the technique called �open throat.� Results indicated that all fifteen pedagogues described �open throat� technique as fundamental to singing training and were positive about the sound quality it achieved, especially in classical singing. It was described as a way of maximising pharyngeal space or abducting the false vocal folds. Hypotheses generated from pedagogical beliefs expressed in this first study were then tested acoustically (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004a, 2004b). Six advanced singing students sang in two conditions: �optimal� (O), using maximal open throat, �sub-optimal� (SO), using reduced open throat and loud sub-optimal (LSO) to control for the effect of loudness. From these recordings, acoustic characteristics of vibrato (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004b) and energy distribution (Mitchell & Kenny, 2004a) were examined. Subsequent investigations of the vibrato parameters of rate, extent and onset, revealed that extent was significantly reduced and onset increased when singers did not use the technique. As inconsistent vibrato is considered indicative of poor singing, it was hypothesized that testing the energy distribution in these singers� voices in each condition would identify the timbral changes associated with open throat. Visual inspection of long term average spectra (LTAS) confirmed differences between O and SO, but conventional measures applied to long term average spectra (LTAS), comparing energy peak height [singing power ratio (SPR)] and peak area [energy ratio (ER)] were not sensitive to the changes identified through visual inspection of the LTAS. These results were not consistent with the vibrato findings and suggest that conventional measures of SPR and ER are not sufficiently sensitive to evaluate LTAS. In the fourth study, fifteen expert listeners consistently and reliably identified the presence of open throat technique with 87% accuracy (Mitchell & Kenny, in press). In the fifth study, LTAS measurements were examined with respect to the perceptual ratings of singers. There was no relationship between perceptual rankings of vocal beauty and acoustic rankings of vocal quality (Kenny & Mitchell, 2004, in press). There is a vast literature of spectral energy definitions of good voice but the studies in this thesis have indicated that current acoustic methods are limited in defining vocal quality. They also suggest that current work in singing has not sufficiently incorporated perceptual ratings and descriptions of sound quality or the relationship between acoustic and perceptual factors with pedagogical practices.

The Swedish singer Elisabeth Olin was the first star of Swedish opera, but very little is known about her today. The theoretical part of this study gives a historical background to her life and the music that she performed, music that is rarely performed today. Further, this study discusses the subject of Historically Informed Performance Practice (HIP) and the most common arguments for and against it, with examples connected to the repertoire in focus. The results of the study show that although HIP does not give clear answers or solutions, it offers tools for interpretation and performance, which help the musician to make artistic choices. The artistic part of this study is a performance about Olin based on music that she performed. The object of the artistic part is to present Olin and the music of her time, particularly the music of Gustavian opera, to a modern audience. / <p>G. B. Pergolesi (1710–1736) Salve Regina i c-moll</p><p>F. A. Uttini (1723–1795) ”Öde, dina dolda lagar” ur Thetis och Pelée (1773)</p><p>F. A. Uttini ”Min tunga känner intet tvång” ur Aline, drottning av Golconda (1775)</p><p>P-A Monsigny (1729­-1817) ”Il ne faut pas vous alarmer” ur La belle Arsène (1773, Stockholm 1779)</p><p>C. W. Gluck (1714-1787) “Armez-vous d’un noble courage” ur Iphigénie en Aulide (1774, Stockholm 1778)</p><p>J. G. Naumann (1741–1801) “Mitt minne fåfängt återför…I berg som krönen denna tract” ur Amphion (1777)</p><p>E. Olin (1740–1828) ”En liten sårland bäck” (ur diktsamlingen ”Gustaviade”, 1768)</p><p>Medverkande: Elisabeth Hellström, sopran; Karolina Weber Ekdahl, barockviolin; Sandra Marteleur, barockviolin; Boel Hillerud Nyman, barockviola; Johanna Niederbacher, barockcello; Sofia Winiarski, kistorgel och cembalo; Klara Hellström, blockflöjt; Alex Gullberg, blockflöjt</p><p>Ljudupptagning från examenskonsert i Kungasalen 2023-03-22 med ovanstående program och medverkande.</p>

Syftet med studien är att få ökad insikt i körledares förhållningssätt till och hantering av sångtekniska övningar i kör. Bakgrundskapitlet beskriver sångrösten som instrument, och olika – i sångsammanhang – vanligt förekommande begrepp samt ger en presentation av tidigare litteratur och forskning som anknyter till studiens syfte. Vidare presenteras ett sociokulturellt perspektiv i egenskap av teoretisk utgångspunkt. Undersökningen är genomförd med hjälp av den kvalitativa intervjun som metod. Fyra i nuläget aktiva körledare intervjuades och i resultatet beskrivs deras syn på vad röst- och sångteknik innebär och hur de går tillväga för att förmedla detta till sina korister samt vilka redskap som används för ändamålet. I diskussionen förs ett resonemang kring kunskapsförmedling och hur den sker via olika kommunikationsvägar samt vilka olika roller som ryms i körledarrollen. / The purpose of this study is to gain further insight into choir conductors' approach to and manage-ment of technical vocal exercises in the choir. The background chapter describes the singing voice as an instrument, different common concepts in song contexts, and gives a presentation of earlier literature and research related to the purpose. Furthermore the study presents a socio-cultural perspective as a theoretical basis. The survey is carried out using the qualitative interview method. Four currently active choir directors were interviewed. The results describes their view of what the voice-singing technique entails, how they convey this to their choir and which tools they use for this purpose. The discussion reflects on the knowledge transmission and communication between choir and choir director.

This master thesis will examine the role of falsetto in structuring the male singing voice. The author will examine both Czech and international literature of the 20th century concerned with pedagogy of singing with regard to the use of head register. Works that are cited in this thesis were chosen based upon their authors' common view that it is the contribution of head voice that should play major role in structuring the singing voice. Czech authors in this thesis include Antonín Mařík, Jiří Bar, Rudolf Vašek and Přemysl Kočí. Foreign authors are represented by Anthony Frisell. This thesis strives to summarize main pedagogical concepts of the above mentioned authors. Based upon citations, it lists and explains their most common views. Apart from explaining thoughts and opinions that are shared by a majority of listed authors, this thesis also mentions views and opinions that are in some way radical or significantly different from the rest of the group. These pedagocial concepts of head voice training are later compared with the current method of chest voice training. Here, the author draws not only on the literature but also on his experience from his studies of classical singing at the Prague Conservatory. This work will also strive to summarize and compare terms such as register, head voice,...

Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka hur sångpedagoger inom genren ”svensk folklig sång” använder trall i sin undervisning och om de eventuellt använder den som ett redskap för att förbättra sångteknik. Tre kvalitativa intervjuer med sångpedagoger ligger till grund för undersökningen och ett sociokulturellt perspektiv har varit teoretisk utgångspunkt. Studiens resultat visar att alla informanter använder sig mycket av trall i undervisningen och att de dessutom använder den som ett sångtekniskt redskap. Informanterna anser att trallen har en mängd egenskaper som gör den till ett praktiskt verktyg när de vill öva sångteknik och exempel på områden i vilka trallen kan tjäna som övning är rytm- och puls, andning, artikulation och röströrlighet. Informanterna anser också att trallen har vissa sociala parametrar som gör den till ett bra hjälpmedel för att bli en del av den folkmusikaliska diskursen. / The purpose of this essay is to examine how singing-teachers, within the Swedish folk music-genre, use trall when they teach and if they eventually use it as a tool to improve singing technique. The foundation of the research is three qualitative interviews. The socio-cultural perspective has served as the study´s theoretical basis. The result of the study shows that all of the interviewees use trall a lot in their teaching and that they also use it as a tool. The interviewees think that trall has a lot of qualities that makes it a practical tool for practicing singing-technique. Examples of areas where trall can be used as practise is rhythm and pulse, breathing, articulation and movability within the voice. The interviewees also think that trall has social parameters which makes it a good tool for becoming a part of the folk-music discourse.

Studiens syfte var att undersöka och utvärdera hur dirigenten på effektivast möjliga sätt kommunicerar information till koristerna genom sitt gestiska språk utifrån hur koristerna fördelar sin uppmärksamhet och tolkar positioneringen av dirigentens händer. Studien utredde även om och i så fall hur uppmärksamhetsfördelningen och tolkningen av en dirigents gestik skiljer sig mellan korister med varierande körerfarenhet och musikalisk utbildning. Dirigering är ett uråldrigt icke-verbalt kommunikationssätt och tidigare forskning visar att vi människor speglar varandras kroppsspråk, den så kallade kameleonteffekten. Tillsammans med vetskap om hur sångarens röstapparat fungerar ges en övergripande bild av vilken information koristen behöver från dirigenten för att sången ska nå önskat resultat. Studien genomfördes genom experiment på fyra körgrupper med skilda erfarenheter av körsång samt utbildningsnivå i musik, där ett antal övningar konstruerades för att kunna analysera hur sångarna fördelade sin uppmärksamhet mellan dirigentens händer, ansikte och det egna lyssnandet. Som komplement till experimentet genomfördes även en intervju med en erfaren professionell kördirigent. Resultatet visade att det fanns både likheter och skillnader i försöksgruppernas tolkning av gestiken. Enklare gester som tydligt ger psykologiska associationer till kända känslor eller beteenden, såsom att lyfta något tungt, tolkades intuitivt på likvärdigt sätt av samtliga sångare, medan mer köridiomatiska gester såsom att placera en konsonant på ett synkoperat slag skiljde sig mellan grupperna. Detta innebär inte att mindre erfarna sångare med nödvändighet inte kan avläsa eller förstå vissa gester. Skillnaderna mellan gruppernas tolkning av gestiken berodde sannolikt i hög utsträckning på andra faktorer, såsom att det i repetitionssammanhang kan ta längre tid för den oerfarne koristen att lära sig läsa noterna, hitta rätt i röst och andning och intonera rent. Detta gör att denne inte har lika mycket utrymme att koncentrera sig på dirigentens gestik jämfört med en korist som tränat upp körsjungandets elementa till automatik. / The purpose of the study was to examine and evaluate how the conductor most efficiently communicates information to the choristers through gestural language based on how the choristers distribute their attention and interpret the position of the conductor’s hands. The study also investigated if and how the distribution of attention and interpretation of a conductor’s gesticulation differs between choristers with different levels of experience in choral singing and musical education. Conducting is an ancient non-verbal mode of communication, and previous research shows that people mirror each other’s body language, the so-called chameleon effect. Coupled with knowledge of the function of the singers’ vocal apparatus, an overall picture of what information the choristers need from the conductor in order for the music to achieve the desired result is provided. The study was conducted through experiments on four choir groups with different levels of experience in choral singing and musical education, where a number of exercises were constructed to analyze how the singers distributed their attention between the conductor's hands, face and their own listening. To complement the experiment, an interview with an experienced professional choir conductor was made. The results showed both similarities and differences in the experimental groups' interpretation of gestures. Simpler gestures that clearly gives psychological associations of known emotions or behaviors, such as lifting something heavy, were intuitively interpreted in a similar way by all singers, while more choreographic gestures such as placing a consonant on a syncopated beat differed between the groups. This does not necessarily mean that less experienced singers are unable to read or understand certain gestures. The differences between the groups' interpretation of gestures were probably largely due to other factors, such as the fact that in a rehearsal context it may take longer for the inexperienced chorister to decipher the notes, find the right voice and breathing and intonate just. This means that they have less opportunity to concentrate on the conductor's gestures, in comparison with a chorister who has trained the basic elements of choral singing to automaticity. / <p>Information om examenskonserten</p><p>Repertoar:</p><p>Lux Aeterna (Rebecka Ryd)</p><p>I detta vita, outsagda (text Cecilia Lindemalm, musik Rebecka Ryd)</p><p>Hör på mig, ni fjärran länder (text Jesaja 49:1-2, musik Rebecka Ryd)</p><p>Visa vid vindens ängar (text och musik Mats Paulson, arr Rebecka Ryd)</p><p>Den blida vår är inne (text J O Wallin, A Frostenson, arr Rebecka Ryd)</p><p></p><p>Medverkande:</p><p>Rebecka Ryds Diskantensemble</p><p>Dante Fritzell, flöjt</p><p>Lisa Herlitz, oboe</p><p>Patricia Träff, klarinett</p><p>Zacharias Frato, horn</p><p>Fritz Fembro, fagott</p><p>Rebecka Ryd, dirigent och kompositör</p>