Voice-Passaggio

It is my understanding that when the voice cracks the vibration of the vocal folds have become asymmetrical. That is, the left and right vocal folds are not opening and closing at the same time. One of the folds will move to close before the other one is ready to do so. This action implies that something of sufficient force has disturbed them from their natural tendency for equal perturbation. That force is initiated by the sudden removal of a standing wave in the vocal tract that is providing a stable oscillating environment through the effect of “inertance” (See Ingo Titae). ...

Recently on “Vocalist” an important question was asked about the location of female and male first (primo) passaggio: I’m confused! Why does the primo passaggio point in female voices lie lower as the voice gets lighter (Eb4 in sopranos, E4/F4 in mezzo-sopranos and G4 in contraltos) whereas the corresponding case in male voices is quite contrary (primo passaggio is higher as the voice gets lighter)? This is not too difficult to answer but it is problematic to use terms that are not ambiguous. The explanation for female voices is different from that for male voices even though the female first (primo) passaggio is in about the same position as the male single passaggio. The female voice has a second (secondo) passaggio about an octave higher than their first passaggio. The male voice has no second passaggio. ...