This sudden return to the blogosphere brought to you by my
desire to write something other than book reports, research assignments, and
job applications.
Today: musings on the power of the human voice.
Unlike the majority of millenials, I grew up listening to
radio. Until I was about 14, FM was where I tuned. Television, movies, and even
music were very low on my list. Some of my favorite and oldest memories have
the voices of John Avery Whittaker, Ranger Bill, Carl Kasell, Chris Anthony,
Tom and Ray Magliozzi, Terry Gross, John MacArthur, and Alistair Begg in the
background (and sometimes foreground). That is probably part of the reason why
a person’s vocal quality matters so much to me now.
One class in college started me thinking about this.
Originally when I registered for [cringe] Post-tonal Sight Singing I was,
surprisingly, looking forward to the experience. The professor was listed as
one I had previously. Considering he taught “normal” music theory chords as
members of the Mafia and I had retained that well enough, I was confident in
his ability to have me correctly sightsinging seemingly-random notes off a
staff by finals. And with a smile on my face, too.
Imagine my disappointment when I walked into the first day
of class and found instead the IT guy sitting at the piano with textbook and
dry-erase marker in hand. Later I came to find that the IT guy was actually a
graduate composition student who worked for the tech center on the side, but
what I noticed first was his voice: deep and strong, with a certain warmth. It
reminded me of someone else I couldn’t quite place until about the 5th
week in when a classmate leaned toward me and whispered “Don’t you think he
sounds like Shere Khan?” Liiiightbuuulb.
Yes, it’s like that, minus the sinester quality. It did keep
our attention in class, which is quite the feat considering it was an early
morning class for music students. So there’s that: “Sightsinging with Shere Khan”.
I don’t have stories for the rest of these, but they deserve
a mention.
John Avery Whittaker’s quality is a chicken and egg
situation. Which is more important? Would I attach a feeling of comfort to his
voice if his character was not marked by integrity, kindness, and loyalty? I
would say yes considering other similar figures whose voices I do not enjoy as
well.
Tom and Ray Magliozzi (a.k.a. Click and Clack) gave the
laughter that put the added shine in Saturday mornings. MANY a housecleaning
task was and is lightened by their humor.
Alistair Begg is my favorite Scotsman and one of my favorite
storytellers. Even if he hadn’t retained that lovely accent I would still
listen. I can take a hard truth more easily when it is handled with such care.
Carl Kasell. I think the news lost a great sense of clout
and substance when not announced with your vocal chords, although Wait Wait,
Don’t Tell Me has suffered the most.
Chris Anthony, many may underestimate the value behind your
openings of Odyssey, but you could convince me that even a cloudy Monday held
excitement if it began with “Hi! This is Chris! Welcome to Adventures with
Pilgrim!”
Now I wonder how people perceive my own voice.
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