We need a thread too! When singing early music, be it a Handel aria, an ancient chant or folk song or an Elizabethan part song how do you alter your technique and singing styles? Do feel free to use this thread to discuss anything related to early vocal music.

I don't sing a lot of early music, so I'm no expert on getting it right, but when I have sung it I've tried to generally inform myself on the period pronunciation of the language to make sure diction is right and then to sing with a purer, straighter tone than I would usually use - more or less vibrato free.

I'm sure there's a lot more to it than that, though - when it's in the right hands!

At times I can make a very convincing counter tenor sound and used to use it in an early music group many years ago when we didn't have the real thing. I don't tend to do it these days as it was rather hard work.

*faints*
and there was I thinking you were an expert on everything...

Why would you think that? Because I've spoken up a few times on things I am an expert on? Surely that's how things are meant to work, and the point of these forums? Each of us brings the expertise we have to the table and we share it - no? I could always go back to pretending that everyone is right about everything all the time, of course - better to avoid treading on toes and bruising egos rather than actually say the truth about something, hey

Sorry for nicking your thread Petrat - to try to get back on topic, do you have any recordings of your counter tenor sound? I'd be really interested to hear it.

Sorry, but I just can't resist posting this definition of "expert" which a friend told me the other day.

An x is a totally unknown quantity which may have no value whatsoever, and a spurt is merely a drip under pressure!

Sorry, I was just teasing...

I'm not sure what a counter-tenor sound is. I've often listened to music on the radio convinced I was listening to a counter-tenor and it turned out to be a woman (and vice versa).

Val

Alas I don't have any recordings of the group. We never made any professional ones but it did get some radio air time. I may try to record my countertenor but I don't have any idea of how to do it and how to put a recording here. I know how to do youtube ones but it would have to be sound only.

Aye, that would be great if you can!

Out of interest are you a soprano, mezzo or contralto ? Just wondering whether your own voice range helps in the counter tenor sound.

I trained as a mezzo but have a very good top and not so good notes below middle C. I am quite a good mimic too.