I enjoy her re-endition of classical arias. She has a rather weak and thin voice that sounds better on recording than live. If you listen to her 1961 concert in Russia on youtube you will hear that her voice is very small, she needs to have the microphone near her mouth to be heard in the higher notes. Her studio recording of "Vissi d'arte" sounds very good, but not perfect. It reminds me of Gina Lollobrigida's take on Tosca. But if you listen to Yma singing "Chacun de nuit", she incorporates quite a pleasant coloratura run near the end. Polish singer Violetta Villas could hit A7 in whistle register and Bb2 in chest voice, which gives her almost 5 ocatves, to that she is untrained and sung classical arias.
You should check out his entry on Wiki, Stuey. Guy's majorly talented. Not to mention he has the best possible taste as he has said that if he started a super band he'd ask Krauss as the lead singer. ;)
There's some internet rumors I've crept onto classing her as a coloratura contralto--a really powerful one.
It wouldn't surprise me--Ewa Podles (world's "foremost" coloratura contralto) has been recorded hitting an f6--and if I read right, it was without a microphone. Yma sang with one, I believe, meaning she could magnify any softer notes above that. But really, when you can sing whatever the fuck you want, who cares.
How could Yma be a Soprano. I've heard her on YouTube and her voice is very low and dark like a Coloratura contralto. Maybe a dramatic soprano that can dip in contralto tessitura. this is most confusing
There is a lot of debate over Yma's voice type, when it should be easy. She's none of what anybody has said, she's clearly a sopramezzoaltobaritenor, and the only one in the world.
I think I can hear her go from E2 to E7 in the song Chuncho alone. Isn't that 5 octaves?
ReplyDeleteHey Jan, I'm going to redo this whole profile, in more depth and audio clips soon. Watch this space !
ReplyDeleteI enjoy her re-endition of classical arias. She has a rather weak and thin voice that sounds better on recording than live. If you listen to her 1961 concert in Russia on youtube you will hear that her voice is very small, she needs to have the microphone near her mouth to be heard in the higher notes. Her studio recording of "Vissi d'arte" sounds very good, but not perfect. It reminds me of Gina Lollobrigida's take on Tosca. But if you listen to Yma singing "Chacun de nuit", she incorporates quite a pleasant coloratura run near the end. Polish singer Violetta Villas could hit A7 in whistle register and Bb2 in chest voice, which gives her almost 5 ocatves, to that she is untrained and sung classical arias.
ReplyDeleteShe's a coloratura contralto (voice even considered rare, because I was able to issue a baritone to a soprano ultra Leggero); bjs ..
ReplyDeleteAyu sure? I don't think a contralto would be able to sing so fast, and sing Queen of the night aria.
ReplyDeleteI love her!
ReplyDeleteShe wasn't a soprano!!! She was a virago-contralto!!
ReplyDeleteFor her age at the time, this was extremely impressive..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIgvnGtAg7c
Too true, impressive and random.
ReplyDeleteHow about this one from the same category..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkVnexkFJS4
Awesome! I would not have clicked on that in a million years! lol
ReplyDeleteTalk about range eh ;)
ReplyDeleteI know, but real talent too! All those diff sounds produced are mind boggling, he must have started that in the bloomin womb to be so adept :D
ReplyDeleteYou should check out his entry on Wiki, Stuey. Guy's majorly talented. Not to mention he has the best possible taste as he has said that if he started a super band he'd ask Krauss as the lead singer. ;)
ReplyDeleteHere's them in action together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9TvxxEwwuI
she said in an interview that she had a 5 octave range,not four
ReplyDeleteThat song is so incredible. So creepy, but her vocal dynamics in it are second to none omg. And her range is definitely more than is listed :)
ReplyDeleteYes, she's E2 to E7 at her peak AFAIK. A very rare rangy soprano capable of singing contralto, mezzo-soprano, and soprano repertoire.
ReplyDeleteThere's some internet rumors I've crept onto classing her as a coloratura contralto--a really powerful one.
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't surprise me--Ewa Podles (world's "foremost" coloratura contralto) has been recorded hitting an f6--and if I read right, it was without a microphone. Yma sang with one, I believe, meaning she could magnify any softer notes above that. But really, when you can sing whatever the fuck you want, who cares.
I've heard talk that Yma was a soprano sfogato with an incredible head voice extension up to F#7.
ReplyDeleteYma is a soprano sfogato :P
ReplyDeleteHow could Yma be a Soprano. I've heard her on YouTube and her voice is very low and dark like a Coloratura contralto. Maybe a dramatic soprano that can dip in contralto tessitura. this is most confusing
ReplyDelete2 years on, still watching this space DD. :p
ReplyDeleteStill waiting......http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-go6eKiLPFH0/UnYgZyHTkNI/AAAAAAAAOko/4iaTvSmv--I/s1600/cookie-monster-waiting.gif
ReplyDeleteNo, her vocal range is G#2 - Bb7 (5 octaves, 1 note and a semitone). In chuncho, she goes from Bb2 to C#7.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of debate over Yma's voice type, when it should be easy. She's none of what anybody has said, she's clearly a sopramezzoaltobaritenor, and the only one in the world.
ReplyDelete