The Effectiveness of Visual Feedback Singing Vocal Technology in Greek Elementary School

(Abstract to follow

“Visual Aspects of Byzantine Music Modes: Exploring the 'Ethos' of Byzantine Melopoeia through Acoustic Analysis”

It is known –from Chrysanthos’ Great Theory of Music– that “ethe in melopoeia were three, the diastaltic, the systaltic and the hesychastic. They were called ethe, because by them the state of the soul was observed and corrected. Diastaltic ethos is the one by which majesty and virile disposition of the soul, heroic deeds and related passions are expressed. Tragedy uses this ethos most and among the others, the ones that preserve this character. This ethos is idiosyncratic of our first and third echos. Systaltic is the ethos by which the soul is driven to humility and to cowardly disposition. This state of soul fits to erotic passions, laments, compassions and the like. This ethos is idiosyncratic of our second echos and all the plagals except the barys. Hesychastic is the one which is followed by serenity of the soul and a state of freedom and peacefulness. It suits to hymns, paeans, songs of praise and the like. This ethos is idiosyncratic of our echos barys and our first echos”. According to the above observations it is obvious that an internal (and strong) connection between any specific “Ethos” of Byzantine Melopoeia and some of Byzantine Music Modes exists. So, in the present paper we would like to explore the functionality of Byzantine Music Modes through a spectral analysis in the PRAAT environment (open source), connecting the visual and sound aspects of those modes which represent different moods (“ethe”). The analysis will be focused on the common energy of each mode as well as on the composing structure of any individual melodies, while taking into account the particular intervallic variety and expressive analysis, obtained when performing and decoding the Byzantine notation. We believe that visualizing Byzantine Music Modes through Acoustic Analysis, having as a main source the performer’s voice, we would create an excellent media, helping any potential student to understand better the functionality of Byzantine Music Modes and their aesthetical relationship with the sense of the so-called “Ethos” of the Byzantine Melopoeia

Towards a Singing Voice Multi-Sensor Analysis Tool: System Design, and Assessment Based on Vocal Breathiness

Singing voice is a human quality that requires the precise coordination of numerous kinetic functions and results in a perceptually variable auditory outcome. The use of multi-sensor systems can facilitate the study of correlations between the vocal mechanism kinetic functions and the voice output. This is directly relevant to vocal education, rehabilitation, and prevention of vocal health issues in educators; professionals; and students of singing, music, and acting. In this work, we present the initial design of a modular multi-sensor system for singing voice analysis, and describe its first assessment experiment on the ‘vocal breathiness’ qualitative characteristic. A system case study with two professional singers was conducted, utilizing signals from four sensors. Participants sung a protocol of vocal trials in various degrees of intended vocal breathiness. Their (i) vocal output, (ii) phonatory function, and (iii) respiratory behavior-per-condition were recorded through a condenser microphone (CM), an Electroglottograph (EGG), and thoracic and abdominal respiratory effort transducers (RET), respectively. Participants’ individual respiratory management strategies were studied through qualitative analysis of RET data. Microphone audio samples breathiness degree was rated perceptually, and correlation analysis was performed between sample ratings and parameters extracted from CM and EGG data. Smoothed Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPPS) and vocal folds’ Open Quotient (OQ), as computed with the Howard method (HOQ), demonstrated the higher correlation coefficients, when analyzed individually. DECOM method-computed OQ (DOQ) was also examined. Interestingly, the correlation coefficient of pitch difference between estimates from CM and EGG signals appeared to be (based on the Pearson correlation coefficient) statistically insignificant (a result that warrants investigation in larger populations). The study of multi-variate models revealed even higher correlation coefficients. Models studied were the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) and the proposed multiple regression model CDH (CPPS, DOQ, and HOQ), which was attempted in order to combine analysis results from microphone and EGG signals. The model combination of ABI and the proposed CDH appeared to yield the highest correlation with perceptual breathiness ratings. Study results suggest potential for the use of a completed system version in vocal pedagogy and research, as the case study indicated system practicality, a number of pertinent correlations, and introduced topics with further research possibilities

Towards a Decodification of the Graphical Scores of Anestis Logothetis (1921-1994). The Graphical Space of Odysee(1963)

(Abstract to follow

Towards a Singing Voice Multi-Sensor Analysis Tool: System Design, and Assessment Based on Vocal Breathiness

Singing voice is a human quality that requires the precise coordination of numerous kinetic functions and results in a perceptually variable auditory outcome. The use of multi-sensor systems can facilitate the study of correlations between the vocal mechanism kinetic functions and the voice output. This is directly relevant to vocal education, rehabilitation, and prevention of vocal health issues in educators; professionals; and students of singing, music, and acting. In this work, we present the initial design of a modular multi-sensor system for singing voice analysis, and describe its first assessment experiment on the ‘vocal breathiness’ qualitative characteristic. A system case study with two professional singers was conducted, utilizing signals from four sensors. Participants sung a protocol of vocal trials in various degrees of intended vocal breathiness. Their (i) vocal output, (ii) phonatory function, and (iii) respiratory behavior-per-condition were recorded through a condenser microphone (CM), an Electroglottograph (EGG), and thoracic and abdominal respiratory effort transducers (RET), respectively. Participants’ individual respiratory management strategies were studied through qualitative analysis of RET data. Microphone audio samples breathiness degree was rated perceptually, and correlation analysis was performed between sample ratings and parameters extracted from CM and EGG data. Smoothed Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPPS) and vocal folds’ Open Quotient (OQ), as computed with the Howard method (HOQ), demonstrated the higher correlation coefficients, when analyzed individually. DECOM method-computed OQ (DOQ) was also examined. Interestingly, the correlation coefficient of pitch difference between estimates from CM and EGG signals appeared to be (based on the Pearson correlation coefficient) statistically insignificant (a result that warrants investigation in larger populations). The study of multi-variate models revealed even higher correlation coefficients. Models studied were the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) and the proposed multiple regression model CDH (CPPS, DOQ, and HOQ), which was attempted in order to combine analysis results from microphone and EGG signals. The model combination of ABI and the proposed CDH appeared to yield the highest correlation with perceptual breathiness ratings. Study results suggest potential for the use of a completed system version in vocal pedagogy and research, as the case study indicated system practicality, a number of pertinent correlations, and introduced topics with further research possibilities

FONASKEIN: An Interactive Application Software for the Practice of the Singing Voice

(Abstract to follow

Approaches and Assessment of Drama Prosodic Tools in Live Performance

(Abstract to follow