Royal School of Church Music
▪ Boys sing treble exclusively in all-male choirs
▪ Sing in professional range in upper adjustment only
▪ Pure sound with few overtones and no vibrato
▪ No chest voice is permitted into mix; thus, notes below e are unusable
▪ After vocal mutation, voices are quieted then retired from the choir
Prepubescent boys (trebles) are assigned soprano parts in all male choirs; they are trained to sing the professional soprano range in the upper adjustment only. Sound is pure in quality, with little or no vibrato. Boys are not permitted to incorporate chest voice into their mix; thus, pitches below e are virtually unusable. During voice change trebles sing in pure voice only. After vocal mutation is more or less complete and the boys are no longer able to sustain soprano range, the voice is quieted for a period of adjustment until the lower voice settles.
Alto-Tenor Approach
▪ Posits that voices gradually lose upper register as they add lower notes
▪ “Alto-tenor” describes voice after mutation begins
▪ Voice is distinct: neither man nor boy, and light in quality
▪ Speaking voice most reliable gauge of mutational stage
▪ Longer boy remains in alto-tenor range, more likely he will become tenor
Posits voice change is gradual process in which boy loses upper register as he adds notes in his lower register. Term “alto-tenor” describes the boy’s voice after vocal mutation has commenced. Approximate range is G to g, is distinct (neither boy nor man) and light. Speaking voice is gauged most reliable indicator of mutational stage. The longer the boy’s voice remains in the “alto-tenor” range the more likely he will become a tenor.