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Overtone focusing in biphonic tuvan throat singing.
Christopher Bergevin1,2,3,4, Chandan Narayan5, Joy Williams6
1Physics and Astronomy, York University, Toronto, Canada.
Elife
|February 13, 2020
Summary
Tuvan singers achieve unique biphonation by precisely controlling vocal tract shape. This allows them to produce two pitches simultaneously through linear filtering, enhancing sound production.
Area of Science:
- Acoustics
- Bioacoustics
- Speech Science
Background:
- Khoomei is a traditional Tuvan singing style featuring simultaneous production of two distinct pitches.
- The biomechanics underlying this biphonation phenomenon are not fully understood.
- Biphonation involves a low-frequency rumble and a high-pitched whistle-like tone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the biomechanical mechanisms behind Khoomei biphonation.
- To elucidate how vocal tract morphology contributes to producing two pitches simultaneously.
- To determine if biphonation arises from source or filter characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized sound analysis to characterize the acoustic output.
- Employed dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to visualize vocal tract movements.
- Developed vocal tract models to simulate biphonation production.
Main Results:
- Tuvan singers demonstrate exceptional control over vocal tract morphology.
- Biphonation is achieved by narrowly focusing vocal tract harmonics (overtones).
- The higher pitch (1-2 kHz) results from a focused filter state merging two formants, enhancing sound in a narrow frequency band.
Conclusions:
- Khoomei biphonation is primarily a result of linear filtering by the vocal tract.
- Vocal tract modulation, not nonlinear source properties, is key to producing two pitches.
- This study clarifies the acoustic and biomechanical principles of a unique human vocalization.
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