Spectral characteristics of klapa singing performed by professional folk singers

Abstract

Cilj je istraživanja bio ispitati spektralne karakteristike klapskoga pjevanja, te utvrditi oslanja li se ovaj način pjevanja na pjevački formant. Analiziralo se glasove dvanaestorice profesionalnih folklornih pjevača. Svaki je otpjevao dalmatinsku pjesmu Zaspalo je siroče u Gduru. Pojedinačne se glasove snimalo digitalno, a analiza dugotrajnoga prosječnog spektra učinjena je u programu PRAAT. U obliku spektra pjevača nisu ustanovljena obilježja koja bi upućivala na pjevački formant. U području frekvencija 2.2-3.7 kHz uočena su dva vrha (treći i četvrti formant), te oblik spektra koji je sličan obliku spektra govora. U spektrima je nekih pjevača nešto naglašeniji četvrti formant, te ima obilježja govorničkoga formanta. Zbog ispitivanja sličnosti klapskoga pjevanja i govora, u istraživanje je naknadno uveden uzorak govornika (N=8). Računalo se i uspoređivalo nagib spektralne ovojnice prema visokim frekvencijama, prosječnu jakost pojaseva širine tisuću herca (1-2 kHz, 2-3 kHz, 3-4 kHz i 4-5 kHz), te parametre alfa i VF (jakost visokih formanata). Rezultati ovih obrada pokazali su da su spektralne karakteristike klapskoga pjevanja i govora slične. No razlike postoje u jakosti područja frekvencija 2-4 kHz (parametar VF). Spektar je klapskoga pjevanja ovdje pojačan, no to pojačanje nema sličnosti s pjevačkim formantom. Zaključuje se da je produkcija klapskoga pjevanja usporediva s produkcijom (kultiviranoga) govora.The purpose of this research was to examine the spectral characteristics of klapa singing and to show if this type of singing relies on a singer’s formant. The voices of twelve professional male folk singers were digitally recorded and analysed for long-term average spectrum (LTAS) in the PRAAT program. Each singer performed the Dalmatian song Zaspalo je siroče in G-major. The LTAS contour showed no evidence of a singer’s formant. Instead, the averaged LTAS curve with two distinctive peaks between 2.2 kHz and 3.7 kHz (these correspond to the third and fourth formants) turned out to have features quite similar to a speech spectrum. A more pronounced fourth formant in the case of some singers turned out to have the features of a speaker’s formant. In order to examine the similarities between klapa singing and speech, a sample of speaker subjects (N=8) was subsequently included in the study. The spectral slope and average intensity in the bands 1-2 kHz, 2-3 kHz, 3-4 kHz and 4-5 kHz as well as alfa and VF (strength of the high formants) parameters were computed and compared. The results showed that spectral characteristics of klapa singing and speaking were comparable. However, the differences were noticeable in intensity levels in 2-4 kHz frequency range (VF parameter). In this case the klapa singing spectrum was intensified but there were no sings of the singer’s formant. The conclusion is that the production of klapa singing is comparable to that of (trained) speech