on the Voice: Belt Technique: Research, Acoustics, and Possible World Music Applications

In the field of choral performance, transcriptions and arrangements of works from traditions as diverse as Mongolian, sub-Saharan African, and Southeast Asian are being performed with greater frequency. With varying degrees of success, choirs approximate the vocal timbres appropriate to the cultures through any number of means, including attending to and imitating recordings of indigenous vocalists; soliciting feedback from natives, if possible, or non-native "experts; and following the directions published in the score. For the singer or choral director inclined to explore the vocal riches outside of the Western classical tradition, belt singing holds great promise. The author presents the results of a research study conducted on the relationship between belt and world music techniques. The spectrum of traditional singing styles found around the world includes, without doubt, examples of "raw belt" vocalism, "free belt," and many styles in-between. The study concludes that belt is a valid and valuable style that choral directors could well afford to explore.