Vox Humana: Alfred Wolfsohn's Experiments in Extension of Human Vocal Range

Have you ever considered what the full range of tone and pitch the human voice is? Have you wondered if there was some latent singing ability that all people were capable of achieving?

Alfred Wolfsohn was inspired to explore such questions about vocal range after serving in the World War I. Haunted by cries on the battlefield and suffering from post-traumatic stress, he began experiments as a form of therapy. Alternating between vocal and instrumental (including piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass) exercises, Vox Humana not only showcases the potential vocal range of the human voice, but also the various expressive timbres and tone qualities that can be utilized. His experiments push the range of the human voice to nine octaves (two more than the piano!) and demonstrate an impressive, avant-garde flexibility. Liner notes include an introduction and track notes.

Track Listing

101	Lend Me Your Ears!: Phonation of Words	Marita Günther	00:54
102	Duet in New Vocal Sound Range: Arpeggios	Marita Günther, Jenny Johnson	00:15
103	Boy's Voice: The Word "Bella" / Short Coloratura	Duet in New Vocal Sound Range: Arpeggios	01:10
104	Four & Five Octave Leaps on the word "Viola": Boy / Female Voice / Male Voice	Michael Faraday, Jenny Johnson, Roy Hart	00:51
105	Double & Multiple Stopping by the Voice: Female Voice (Multiple) / Female Voice (Double)	Marita Günther, Jenny Johnson	00:48
106	Demonstration of Different Colorations on Same Notes: Four Male Voices	Ernest Cole, Roy Hart, Thomas Faraday, Julian Keeble	01:26
107	Demonstration of Different Colorations on Same Notes: Five Female Voices	Avis Cole, Gil Johnson, Jenny Johnson, Marita Günther, Irmgard Wersaner	01:27
108	Combination Singing of "Chanson Trieste" (Tchaikovsky): Male and Female Voices	Ernest Cole, Roy Hart, Thomas Faraday, Julian Keeble, Avis Cole, Gil Johnson, Jenny Johnson, Marita	01:27
109	New Registers: Male Voice / Female Voice	Ernest Cole, Gil Johnson	00:45
110	Nine Octaves: Male Voice / Female Voice	Thomas Faraday, Marita Günther	03:36
201	String Quartet for Four Female Voices	Jenny Johnson, Gil Johnson, Avis Cole, Marita Günther	01:11
202	Examples in Single Voice: Violin, Viola, Cello; Double-Bass / Violin (excerpt from Brahms 'Hungarian Dance') / Coloratura of 4 1/2 octaves (excerpt from 'Villanelle' (Eva dell'Acqua)) / "Water Boy" / "Nightingale"	Jenny Johnson	07:46
203	Duets (Voice and Instruments): Female Voice and Viola	n/a	00:36
204	Duets (Voice and Instruments): Male Voice and Cello	n/a	00:36
205	Duets (Voice and Instruments): Female Voice and Violin	n/a	02:08
206	Duets (Voice and Instruments): Female Voice and Flute	n/a	00:34