THE VOICE

Note

Dr. Frank E. Miller, the author of this book, is one of the leading NewYork specialists on throat, nose and ear. He numbers many singers amonghis patients and is physician to the Manhattan Opera House, Mr. OscarHammerstein's company.

To expert knowledge of the physiology of the vocal organs he addspractical experience as a vocalist. Before and during his student yearshe was a singer and held, among other positions, that of tenor in one ofthe large New York churches. This experience has been of great value tohim in his practice among singers. He understands them temperamentallyas well as physically. Moreover, it has led him, in writing this book,to consider questions of temperament as well as principles ofphysiology. Great as is the importance that he attaches to a correctphysiological method of voice-production, he makes full allowance forwhat may be called the psychological factors involvedtherein—mentality, artistic temperament, correct concept on the part of[Pg vi]the singer of the pitch and quality of the tone to be produced, etc.

Above all, Dr. Miller, while convinced that the tones of the vocal scalerequire, for their correct emission, subtly corresponding changes ofadjustment in the vocal organs, utterly rejects anything like adeliberate or conscious attempt on the singer's part to bring aboutthese adjustments. He holds that they should occur automatically (orsubconsciously) as the result, in very rare instances, of supremenatural gifts, in others as a spontaneous sequence to properly developedartistry.

In fact, while based on accurate scientific knowledge, Dr. Miller's bookalso is the outcome of long observation and experience, so that it mightwell be entitled "The Common Sense of Singing."

Gustav Kobbé.

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