| Abstract | Abstract
Objective:
To compare the vocal loads for singing and dialogue of four roles in Fiddler on the Roof across three types of vocal doses (time, cycle, and distance doses) and sound pressure levels.
Methods/ Design:
A professional female-identifying singer assigned female at birth with credits on a Broadway touring company participated in this study. She attached a KayPENTAX APM 3300 dosimeter sensor to her lower neck and wore the accelerometer during a recording of her performance material. The recordings took place at an IAC booth, and she performed all sung material and spoken dialogue at the same intensity as when she performed on stage. The sung and spoken dialogue were recorded separately.
Results:
Dosimetric analysis of four different roles in the musical Fiddler on The Roof showed that the role of Hodel (699.00 meters) produced a larger singing distance dose than Fruma-Sarah (651.20 meters), followed by Grandma/Shaindel (526.73 meters) and Tzeitel (467.00 meters). It also showed that the spoken dialogue of Tzaitel (85.79 meters) was surprisingly larger than Grandma/Shaindel (20.11 meters), followed by Hodel (14.41 meters) and Fruma-Sarah (13.12 meters). Singers in this musical employed extensive mid-range frequency, using mainly mixed vocal strategies as the predominant stylistic choices. Singing range profiles and speaking range profiles per role were generated for comparison across roles.
Conclusions:
Researchers have yet to establish a safe baseline vocal dose for singers. Studies documenting the overall vocal dose of specific roles can aid in establishing the overall dose for specific Broadway roles, which can serve as parameters for vocal training, pacing voice use, and voice care. Phonations requiring louder and higher ranges have larger distance doses, representing the cumulative load placed on vibrating tissue. The distance dose found across the three female roles demonstrates that the most vocally demanding role overall was of Hodel, followed by Fruma-Sarah, then Grandma/Shaindel, and finally Tzeitel.
Key Words:
Dosimetry, Vocal dose, Vocal load, Vocal range, Phonation density graph, Singing, Musical theater, Contemporary musical theater, Belting
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