The Four Voices of Man [Paperback]

Jerome Hines (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2004

Distinguished Metropolitan Opera basso Jerome Hines provides a wealth of information and advice for all those who have embarked on or plan to embark upon a serious singing career. From basic information on how the head and body combine to produce vocal sound, he goes on to analyze the "four voices" encompassed by the singer's one voice, always explaining how through proper technique and training the voice can achieve its ultimate in power, grace and beauty. The book also guides the singer through the labyrinth of choosing the right teacher, shows how physical and emotional health and care of the body relate to the vocal apparatus and considers such diverse matters as stage fright, dealing with conductors and managers and that final challenge - facing the critics. Hardcover.

Product Details

• Paperback: 227 pages
• Publisher: Limelight Editions (August 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879100990
• ISBN-13: 978-0879100995
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for any singer!, January 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Four Voices of Man (Paperback)

Jerome Hines has written one of the best books I've read yet on vocal technique. Perhaps it has something to do with his background in Science. Maybe it's just several decades of singing professionally while remaining teachable throughout.

Mr. Hines knows and demonstrates that there is not only one way to sing well. In fact, he advocates trying different ways and being forever curious about how others are singing and attempting to incorporate what works well into one's own singing.

Overnight, some of my confusion about vocal "placement" was cleared up and I'm already reaping the benefits of this well-thought-out book in terms of how I sound and how I'm approaching singing.

This book should be in the library of any singer who already has a decent grasp on singing technique. It is certain to be a great resource for professional singers for many years to come.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth a read, presenting some thought provoking ideas., May 30, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (OU at Athens, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Four Voices of Man (Paperback)

Mr. Hines has written a thought provoking book on renaming the traditional "voices" often referred to by singers (chest, middle, and high voices, for example). Whether or not you agree with his views, the book is definitely worth delving into for a fresh look at voice placement. Especially valuable is his advice to singers who are pursuing opera as a profession. Invaluable for the voice teacher and the advanced student.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's the problem?, February 8, 2002

By 

Rachel Howard (ocklawaha, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Four Voices of Man (Paperback)

One reviewer commented upon the idea of there not being `four voices' and said Mr. Hines is making the subject too complicated. In one way, the reviewer is correct- it can be a useful method to try and work the `chest' voice as one register. However, it is also my experience that learning how to do this is almost impossible without working the `registers' first- simply to find out what to do with them and find out what they feel like. Trying to hit a high note by using the same `register' as your low notes can be an interesting experience.
It also will likely be excruciating to your ego and to your vocal production.

When one tries to `place' the voice in certain ways, one can find their voice extending its range, depending upon the placement. Listen to recordings of such different singers as Jerome Hines, Nicolai Gedda, and Yma Sumac working the furthest limits of their ranges and tell me there are no such things as registers and different types of voice in one singer. Sumac demonstrated a range of five or more octaves. If you or anyone wants to try and emulate her range while not using registers and head voice, then good luck. Trying to make `one register' out of the voice, without knowing something about how registers feel can cause problems. Eileen Farrell said she never sang with registers, but how many people, including opera singers, have voices approaching hers? And other great singers with great voices have different stories to tell.
How does a singer combine a good top, good middle, and good bottom register in the same voice? It is not easy to do, but Jerome Hines has done it and has been doing it for over fifty years... in front of paying customers. If you bother to listen to him sing, you'll quickly find that he knows what he's talking about. As a student of singing, I've run across reams of good advice... and more reams of horrible advice. One teacher almost destroyed what voice I do have and his `methods' have caused problems for me ever since. On the other hand, Mr. Hines' methods seem to work for me. And know this: he has done extensive research into singing... period! Not just for the bass voice.

Want good examples of his singing? Get Otto Klemperer's wonderful recording of Handel's Messiah, if you can get hold of it. Also, if you can find any of his recordings of sacred music, you will find a resourceful singer, with a great variety of dynamics and tone color. Maybe Jerome Hines has lasted as long as he has because of an iron constitution, but he has outlasted a number of basses with similar voices, and, one would suppose, similar constitutions. I believe he has a lot to say here that is good for the voice. To those who find a book on the technicalities of singing to be too technical... well duhhhhhhh! What the heck do you EXPECT to find? Recipes for fried chicken? Anyone wanting to learn to sing opera who expects to find an easy way to do it had better think again. If Jerome Hines or anybody else puts out a book which claims to do that, then anybody and everybody should take their `wisdom' with a big grain of salt.

If none of Mr. Hines' advice works for you, then you'll have learned something. Maybe you will have to find a different method. Why not?