http://ask.metafilter.com/227822/Vocal-in-8-Lust-Songs/ Comments on Ask MetaFilter post Vocal in 8 Lust Songs Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:17:08 -0800 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:40:39 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/227822/Vocal-in-8-Lust-Songs About 3:26 into <a href="http://youtu.be/hnMujCyCByk">this</a> Michael Nyman piece (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_Lust_Songs:_I_Sonetti_Lussuriosi">8 Lust Songs</a>, NSFW is you speak Italian) the vocalist starts doing something strange and (to me) unpleasant. Can someone with more knowledge either singing or the composer explain what she is doing and what it is supposed to evoke. post:ask.metafilter.com,2012:site.227822 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:17:08 -0800 Fiery Jack Nyman music MichaelNyman resolved http://ask.metafilter.com/227822/Vocal-in-8-Lust-Songs#3296802 The singer is making what we would call a "character voice" to project a kind of grotesque character. According to the linked wikipedia article, the singer portrayed a variety of different characters in the piece. The article specifically references a "voyeuristic old woman," and I would suspect that is what we are hearing here.<br> <br> Beyond that, it's hard to say without looking at the composer's instructions in the score. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2012:site.227822-3296802 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 07:40:39 -0800 slkinsey