An indispensable guide to a deeper understanding of the nature of the human voice and its harmonic possibilities from East to West.Overtone Singing is the most comprehensive book ever written on the hidden harmonies of the human voice. Ethnomusicologist and vocalist Mark van Tongeren offers fascinating insights into the timeless and universal aspects of sound and vibration. Grounded in the author’s decade-long study of Asian music, the book draws upon field work, interviews with Eastern and Western musicians, and copious scholarship to present a multidisciplinary vision of sound that runs from global music to the science of acoustics and perception, onward to the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of music. Written in a nontechnical style, this generously illustrated book is an indispensable guide for musicians, listeners, and performers seeking a deeper understanding of the nature of the human voice and its harmonic possibilities from East to West.
"Ethnomusicologist and vocalist Mark van Tongeren offers a fascinating insight into timeless and universal aspects of the human ability to sing many tones at once. Grounded in a decades-long practical and theoretical study of music, he draws upon fieldwork and interviews with Eastern and Western musicians and composers across the spectrum from archaic traditions to contemporary experiments. This copiously illustrated book examines claims about the healing effects of overtones, juxtaposing local and global practices and transforming some of our core ideas about sound and music. An indispensable guide for musicians, listeners and scholars seeking a deeper understanding of the nature of the human voice and its harmonic possibilities"--Back cover.
