(02-24-2012, 04:25 PM)cherelann Wrote: Ok, since we are kind of on the subject, can anyone supply definitions of music terminology, vibrato, runs, head voice, etc. All I really understand is what is pleasing to my ear. Even direction to an easy to understand website would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for any replies. 
Well, I had hoped that someone else would respond to Cherelann's post, but since no one else has, I shall make a feeble attempt.
A "
run" is a laymen's term (yes, Randy, I'm looking at you!) for "
melisma", which is a series of moving notes sung on one syllable. It's a technique that dates back to (at least) Gregorian chants, one that Gospel music uses a great deal.
Handel did as well -- "Messiah" is full of it. (As an aside, my limited research into Handel's background and musical training, doesn't indicate that he ever sang -- which might explain why he wouldn't have a clue about the vocal difficulty of his musical lines for singers.) I love his "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" but that piece is SO hard. His melismas are not simply a few notes, but measures long (yes, I know I will need to define that term as well, but not today -ok?), and involve an entire section (i.e. sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses), meaning more than one voice, which needs to sing all of these moving notes and stay together. Much easier said than done. Then, he complicates it more, by having more than one section doing harmonic melismas. Next time you hear this piece (and at Christmas time you most likely will), whether sung well or or not, be appreciative of what the singers have accomplished, or are attempted.
However, as a soloist, they (melismas) can be fairly easy, but far too misused. I understand why contestants on AI abuse them, but usually it seems to hurt them. I came across this article from 5 years ago that some of you may find amusing (
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...Id=6791133 ).
"
Vibrato" is a fluctuation of the (original) pitch (most frequently) heard on sustained notes/tones, in order to provide expression to the note. Ultimately, it adds some color to a sustained note, which would, otherwise, be rather boring.
"
Head voice" is also more of a laymen's term for "upper range" or "upper/head register." Any singer with any range of more than an octave (and by range, I'm referring to lowest to highest note that a singer can comfortably and consistently produce -- and that is MY definition of range, not necessarily how it might otherwise be defined; and yes, I will probably have to define octave later as well) will likely encounter changing from the lower parts or his/her range into the higher range. But simply, although, perhaps inaccurately, it refers to where a note resonates (low – chest; high – head).
I hope this helps, although, I suspect it only complicated matters.
