not sure what to call this...
 

OK, here's a strange question, I hope.

I was just listening to some opera, and had a minor prog revelation: there are a number of excellent female vocalists in prog, with perhaps a tendency towards sopranos.

There are lots of male vocalists, again with perhaps a trend towards tenor, or even higher :)

Are there any female contraltos? What first hit me: are there any male baritones, or even basses?

Inquiring (OK obsessive) minds...

Good question Magoo......
 

As an opera lover myself I've been racking my brains about this one.

Ian Anderson definitely veers towards the Baritone especially after he had the problems with his voice after his throat virus a number of years ago.

As for Christian Vander of Magma...........Hmmmmmmm!!!!!

If I think of anymore I'll post again.

Re: not sure what to call this...
 

David Gilmour and Richard Wright are basses.

Happy Rhodes
 

ever hear of her?

She's local to the NJ area I think. I've seen her at the Orion studios in concert, and she is an interesting vocalist. I'm sure she has more, but I have her "Building the Colossus" and "Equipoise" CD's.

Her song "Collective Heart" is in my top 25 or 30 favorite songs. It's beautiful.

She can go from Kate Bush-like highs to ground-shaking low notes that even Greg Lake may never have hit. She's a freak.

Check her out, Magoo and let me know what you think.

"Gonna need stronger underwear"......Happy Rhodes, "Building the Colossus"

Jackpot!
 

I'm reading a fascinating bio on her site, "auntiesocialmusic.com" and it says an enigma with the "highs of Kate Bush to the lows of David Bowie".

Bingo!

Re: Re: not sure what to call this...
 

says who? I don't think Gilmour is a bass - his voice is too high.

Re: Happy Rhodes
 

I've heard of her, and heard some sound bites. "She's a freak" is appropriate - incredible range. A couple of octaves or something ridiculous like that. I haven't been able to get into the music that I've heard, but I'd like to hear more. It's always so hard to tell what an artist is truly like from 30 second clips...

If you want to hear a female vocalist of ridiculous range, request something by Adiemus. Miriam Stockley has a three octave range. She does all the vocals.



As for Gilmour, I am a bass and I can sing all the Floyd songs perfectly - can't hit the notes by those tenors like Steve Perry and Steve Walsh. Think of the vocals to songs like "What Do You Want From Me?" and "Comfortably Numb." I think he's a bass. Rick Wright is definitely a bass...

replies
 

I think Rhodes is like four octaves, I remember hearing once that Minnie Ripperton (yes, the great AM radio hit "Lovin' You) had a "seven octave range". Great work if you can get it.

Good point about the samples, Jim. Maybe I could put her stuff I have on cassette and send it out to you (I have no CD burner, just bearskins and knives).

Gilmour's voice changes dramatically even within CD's. On his About Face CD "Near The End" and "You Know I'm Right" have two totally different vocal ranges.

If you guys keep it up, I'm gonna have that "daddy played bass momma sang tenor" ditty in my head!

So Gilmour is a bass? It's becoming increasingly apparent WHY I'm a terrible singer...:(

it's most likely the same reason that most lead instruments are higher pitched: they cut through better...

they're not prog, but that guy from Crash Test Dummies is definitely a bass... :D

bear in mind the ranges of the three tenors..

if you hear a true bass, you'll know that gilmore
most def isn't one.
i would guess him to be in the low baritone range.

you have to have knowledge of recording
techniques to realise how much attenuation,
cardioid patterns, different mics accentuate
voice characteristics.
e.q.ing, mastering also can radically change a voice,
tip it toward different ranges.

the melodyne celemony program
(gabriel's a user/endorsee) can actually
drag a vocal line to any pitch w/o
a change of speed or formant(a.k.a."chipmunking")

p e a c e in the new year
kirk/zenpool