Exercises to Improve the Aspirated and Pectoral Qualities of Your Voice

Aspirated quality is used to express fear, secrecy, sur­ prise, caution and kindred emotions. Pectoral quality is a deep hollow chest-tone, used in ex­ pressing awe, remorse, deep terror.

Here are some excerpts for you to practice:

Aspirated

1. Lady Macbeth. Alack, I am afraid they have awaked, And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready; He could not miss them. Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done't.

(Enter Macbeth)

My husband!
Macbeth. I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise ?
Lady Macbeth. I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Did not you speak?
Macbeth. When?
Lady Macbeth. Now.
Macbeth. As I descended?
Lady Macbeth. Ay.
Macbeth. Hark! Who lies i' the second chamber?
Lady Macbeth. Donalbain.
Macbeth. This is a sorry sight. (Looking on his hands.)
Lady Macbeth. A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight.
Macbeth. There's one did laugh in's sleep, and one cried "Murder!"
That they did wake each other: I stood and heard them: But they did say their prayers, and addressed them Again to sleep.
"Macbeth." SHAKESPEARE.

2. Steady, boys, steady! Keep your arms ready.
God only knows whom we may meet here. Don't let me be taken- I'd rather awaken
To-morrow in-no matter where,-
Than lie in that foul prison hole over there.
"The Wounded Soldier." ANON.

3. Hark! they whisper: angels say,
"Sister spirit, come away!"
What is this absorbs me quite,-
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirit, draws my breath?-
Tell me, my soul! can this be death?
"The Dying Christian to his Soul/'
POPE.

4. Brutus. How ill this taper burns!-Ha! who comes here?
I think, it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
(Ghost approaches.)
It comes upon me:-Art thou anything?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That mak'st my blood cold, and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art.
"Julius Caesar." SHAKESPEARE.

Pectoral

1. 0! I have passed a miserable night,
So full of fearful dreams of ugly sights,
That, as I am a Christian faithful man,
I would not spend another such a night,
Thought were to buy a world of happy days,
So full of dismal terror was the time.
"Richard III." SHAKESPEARE.

2. Angels and ministers of grace defend us!
Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd.
Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou comest in such a questionable shape
That I will speak to thee! I'll call thee Hamlet,
King, father; royal Dane, 0! answer me!
"Hamlet." SHAKESPEARE.

3. And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming. And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on
the floor; And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted-nevermore.
"The Raven." POE.

4. Ghost. I am thy father's spirit,

Doomed for a certain term to walk the night, And for the day confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burned and purged away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul.

"Hamlet." SHAKESPEARE.