Readings in Voice Arts:

Readings in Voice Arts:Odyssey of the Voice

Readings in VoiceArts is dedicated to group study
of a wide array of voice-related writings, with
specific readings chosen each semester from
important writings on the study of the voice,
evolution and development of the voice and
communication, philosophical writings,
performance studies, and even, occasionally,
literary fiction that is voice-centric. The
course requires extensive out=of=class time for
reading. Class time will be devoted to discussion
and explanation, explication, and analysis.
Occasionally, the class may develop creative
projects based on the materials read. Topics
vary, based on the instructor and student
interests, and may include Jean Abitbols' seminal
work The Odyssey of the Voice, Mladen Dolar's A
Voice and Nothing More, Catherine Clement and
Betsy Wing's Opera the Undoing of Women, Adriana
Cavarero's For More than One Voice, John Potter's
Vocal Authority: Signing Style and Ideology,
Richard Powers' The Time of our Signing, and many
others.
Fall 2015: Jean Abitbol: Odyssey of the Voice
Odyssey of the Voice is written by the renowned
French otolaryngologist, Jean Abitbol, and
translated into English. Dr. Abitbol holds an
intense and life-long passion for the human
voice, clearly apparent in this book which takes
us on a journey from the origin of the human
voice to the modern day, from grunting to
intricately complex classical singing and various
vocal techniques of the world. Dr. Abitbol covers
a vast array of topics, including the evolution
of humans and the voice, anatomy, genetics, the
function of the brain in voicing and singing
language acquisition and evolution, acoustics,
articulation, the voice and emotions, hormones
and sex, the aging voice, vocal health, memory,
vocal techniques, extended uses and practices of
the voice, and ultimately, the mystery of the
human singing voice.
Students will read this 500 page book, over the
course of a semester, and will conduct outside
research on areas of the book that hold relevance
or interest to them. Regular written assignments
and short in -class presentations will be given.
Much class time will be devoted to discussion of
the assigned passages, as well as explication of
complicated material.