This is so beautiful....would it be weird if I'm 14 and was deeply enjoying this? Because I'm sure not many people around my age listen to this sort of music....
I hope I'm not getting too theoretical here. Can't help myself. ;=) If you're interested in sharing thoughts, feel free to contact me or check Peter Giles' book "The Counter Tenor". I am myself also taking voice lessons. I am a tenor and it is interesting that listening to Mr. Oberlin and singing along with him has actually helped me find my tenor head voice. Keep on enjoying great singing, folks. :=)
There are also two kinds of "falsetto" voices. The lower one of these is usually called "head voice". However, they are not so separate from each other or indeed the chest voice and most countertenors use both. There is a way of combining these. Mr. Oberlin uses mostly head voice, but it is more mixed with other registers, so you don't hear much break there. However, this head voice is a little different from the head voice that we usually talk about with other male voice types.
I agree on Mr. Oberlin sounding more natural than some other great singers. One way of describing it is indeed that it's his natural voice. There are actually many different voice types within the term "countertenor". Mr. Oberlin has the type that is sometimes referred to as "tenor altino" or "high tenor".
Thank you for these videos. I've been watching them a lot lately. I used to think I don't like countertenors before I heard Mr. Oberlin. Of course I respect the fine artistry of other countertenors. This is just about my personal taste. I'm writing a thesis about voice types and that's why I've been looking for information about the countertenor voice which I'm not so familiar with.
I'd agree with you there. I had a high voice back in my 20's. People use to think I was the lady of the house when they called! Time has lowered my voice to a tenor/baritone voice.
In the past few years, I encountered a young waiter and also a young supermarket checker who had very beautiful, alto speaking voices. Neither one, however, sang. Apparently, no one recognized their potential or encouraged them to explore singing.
Russell Oberlin! I haven't heard this name (or voice) in decades.
He may sound "different" from the big name countertenors we hear today, but his voice was similar to his contemporaries.
It's been interesting listening to the "evolution" of countertenors over the last 40 years; the naturalness, power ,and flexibitiliy of a Daniels, Scholl, or Dumaux didn't exist when I started listening to early music.
Your welcome, im glad you enjoyed it. When i said differnt, it was in a good way. I just feel that there is a naturalness to his voice than some of the others.
@kgus123 i just stumbled across this guy singing dowland, he certainly didn't strike me as a classic countertenor voice but more of a female lead in a musical or something. he's got this strange (but rather pleasant) tone but i have to say he's very good even if he doesn't have the range of some of his contemporaries
Amazing.
Walvis2007 2 months ago
This is so beautiful....would it be weird if I'm 14 and was deeply enjoying this? Because I'm sure not many people around my age listen to this sort of music....
xbasket12x 1 year ago
@xbasket12x oh sure, the youth are all dancing in the streets to this very number.
gotohell714 10 months ago
thanks for posting this. i'm embarrassed to admit that until today, I had never heard Mr. Oberlin. What a treasure!
jaypenn123 2 years ago
I hope I'm not getting too theoretical here. Can't help myself. ;=) If you're interested in sharing thoughts, feel free to contact me or check Peter Giles' book "The Counter Tenor". I am myself also taking voice lessons. I am a tenor and it is interesting that listening to Mr. Oberlin and singing along with him has actually helped me find my tenor head voice. Keep on enjoying great singing, folks. :=)
MrTristan1983 2 years ago
There are also two kinds of "falsetto" voices. The lower one of these is usually called "head voice". However, they are not so separate from each other or indeed the chest voice and most countertenors use both. There is a way of combining these. Mr. Oberlin uses mostly head voice, but it is more mixed with other registers, so you don't hear much break there. However, this head voice is a little different from the head voice that we usually talk about with other male voice types.
MrTristan1983 2 years ago
:] He has the same voice as me, a very high tenor, basically a contralto. I think he breaks at a high A-Bb (4th A or Bb on a piano) like I do.
restlesspride666 1 year ago
I agree on Mr. Oberlin sounding more natural than some other great singers. One way of describing it is indeed that it's his natural voice. There are actually many different voice types within the term "countertenor". Mr. Oberlin has the type that is sometimes referred to as "tenor altino" or "high tenor".
MrTristan1983 2 years ago 2
Thank you for these videos. I've been watching them a lot lately. I used to think I don't like countertenors before I heard Mr. Oberlin. Of course I respect the fine artistry of other countertenors. This is just about my personal taste. I'm writing a thesis about voice types and that's why I've been looking for information about the countertenor voice which I'm not so familiar with.
MrTristan1983 2 years ago
The major reason that Russell Oberlin sounded different from other "countertenors" is that high-tenor / alto was his natural voice.
sfkcbf 2 years ago 2
I'd agree with you there. I had a high voice back in my 20's. People use to think I was the lady of the house when they called! Time has lowered my voice to a tenor/baritone voice.
mradaChris 2 years ago
In the past few years, I encountered a young waiter and also a young supermarket checker who had very beautiful, alto speaking voices. Neither one, however, sang. Apparently, no one recognized their potential or encouraged them to explore singing.
sfkcbf 2 years ago
Well in my case I was ridiculed for sounding like a girl so I stopped singing in the choir and such for about 25 years.
mradaChris 2 years ago
spoken and singing voice are two different things though...
eustazio 2 years ago
Russell Oberlin! I haven't heard this name (or voice) in decades.
He may sound "different" from the big name countertenors we hear today, but his voice was similar to his contemporaries.
It's been interesting listening to the "evolution" of countertenors over the last 40 years; the naturalness, power ,and flexibitiliy of a Daniels, Scholl, or Dumaux didn't exist when I started listening to early music.
Thanks for this trip down memory lane.
kgus123 2 years ago 3
Your welcome, im glad you enjoyed it. When i said differnt, it was in a good way. I just feel that there is a naturalness to his voice than some of the others.
CubbyNH 2 years ago
@kgus123 i just stumbled across this guy singing dowland, he certainly didn't strike me as a classic countertenor voice but more of a female lead in a musical or something. he's got this strange (but rather pleasant) tone but i have to say he's very good even if he doesn't have the range of some of his contemporaries
SquallPwnLife 1 year ago
Thanks for uploading this. Very interesting to hear and see this artist at work.
lalagonegaga 2 years ago
Your welcome, I think so as well. His voice is... well differnt sounding to me.
CubbyNH 2 years ago