The origins, history and development of Belting

Jeannate LoVetri

I am a belter, belting out a belt song

Singer with a strong voice

Person sings popular songs in a loud voice
JEANNI :

Comes from modal speech (chest register or TA) dominant production, loud volume, vowels not modified

Early research not helpful

Sound found in many cultures – vocal quality

Not defined by teachers or researchers, but the performers

Can only belt, can’t sing softly, men don’t belt, belting is not healthy

Lower voice sound different than high voices doing the same vocal behavior,

Pitches effect how the sound is perceived acoustically

Style may or may not affect the final sound

Vowels can vary without affecting the overall sound quality
Dramatic Tenors versus Alto Belters

Functionally, they are related

Tenors need only “spread” vowels (no modification) and let the larynx slightly rise to sound like belters
Due to the above, dramatic tenors are not a good example
Head slightly tilted up, but not pushed forward

Mouth typically “wide” but not always

Face “alive or smiley, but not always

Mouth always open on high and loud pitches

Tongue and neck are relaxed

Breathing quiet but w/ “strong support”

Long closed quotient, requires high subglottic pressure, does not float, can be noisy rather than pure easy to hold notes for a long time

Anthropologic (ethnic)

Historic

Mid-20^th century

Current
Listen overall vocal quality only, not language or other factors.
Singers need to project or carry, deliver the lyrics clearly

Traditional belt: Sophie Tucker, Kate Smith, Florrie Ford, Angela Lansbury

Aretha Franklin, Freddie Mercury

Elaine Paige – wide mouth

Linda Eder – head up, square mouth

Robert Cuccioli – forward tongue, head up