Assessing the laryngeal nature of singing-voice registers: an overview

International audienceThe question of singing-voice registers is a complex topic which has led to extensive pedagogical and scientific literature. In this talk, we will present an overview of recent studies on the laryngeal nature of singing-voice registers and the way to assess it. The use of electroglottography (EGG) as a main tool to assess the laryngeal nature of a singing-voice register will be detailed. Several aspects have to be taken into account: EGG amplitude, EGG-pulse shape, and the variation of glottal parameters such as open or contact quotients. The notion of laryngeal mechanism will be introduced and related to the commonly-known registers. We will focus on the two main laryngeal mechanisms M1 and M2. Laryngeal mechanism M1 is used in chest or male-head register. Laryngeal mechanism M2 is used in falsetto or female-head registers. These two laryngeal mechanisms are related to the coupling or decoupling of the layered structure of the vocal folds. As the glottal-contact properties differ much between M1 and M2 in relation to modifications of vibrating-mass thickness and dynamics, EGG seems an adequate tool for assessing the laryngeal mechanism in use during singing. We will illustrate the applicability of this approach to the understanding of the laryngeal nature in voix mixte register. This register sweeps a frequency range where both laryngeal mechanism M1 and M2 could be used by a singer. Two laryngeal strategies have been identified. Either the singer sings in M1 with a soft and falsetto-like timbre, or he sings in M2 with a loud and chest-like timbre