Falsetto - Alan Yentob's Programme

[andy-hughes]

I very much enjoyed Alan Yentob's recent documentary about falsetto singers, but I did feel there were one or two glaring ommissions.

If the thrust of the programme is to look at the falsetto in terms of modern pop music, it's absolutely right that The Beach Boys and The Four Freshmen take centre stage. Queen's ujse of falsetto was also highlighted, but the major falsetto voice in Queen is Roger Taylor, why was he not interviewed? Similarly, Jimmy Somervile and Ron Mael from Sparks were pinoeers of the artform in 1970's and 1980's pop, introducing the falsetto to a new generation of music fans.

And the most glaring omissions of all - any mention of the castrati, created by the desire of church and state to prolong and enhance the sound of the falsetto. The concept and history of the castrati was noticeable by its absence - since the falsetto in all modern music grew from that base.

I can only hope that AY is planning a specific dpcumentary on the castrati, and their history and influence in modern popular music.

[sandyRoe]

Has Yentob the b@lls for a programme like that dragging up unsavoury aspects of church history?

[shoota]

You can't say that the seed of the modern use of the falsetto came from the castrati...........

[factor-fiction]

Did he mention Paul da Vinci and the Rubettes?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWgkTMHk98U

[andy-hughes]

Why not shoota?

[shoota]

Castrati don't produce seed AH........

[andy-hughes]

Very clever!

[shoota]

Joking apart - I agree that was a glaring omission, I kept waiting for them to be mentioned and it didn't happen.
Thought I must have missed it as I was a bit late in turning over.

[andy-hughes]

To be fair shoota, the inclusion of such an important element of the art-form may not have been possible in the time allowed, so maybe as i suggest, a further programme is to be made. i have seen one a few years ago when there was played a recording of the last surviving castrato, and he proved that the reasoning bnehind the practise was sound - the voice is far more resonant and powerful than a standard boy soprano, and obviously career experience simply means that the voice gets better as time goes on, without the worry of it ever breaking and being lost.

Apparaney the worst social aspect of the castrati was their arrested emotional development caused by their castration, which turned into perpetual stroppy teenagers, which together with fame and fortune, made a lethal concoction of superlative artist and petty petulant permanently moody man - nightmare!

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe they declined ? Besides I'm sure Roger was mentioned.

[LoftyLottie]

Yes Roger was mentioned and shown singing too.

Good programme

Just made me think of this



Amazing voice in my opinion

[Quizmonkey]

I agree that Sparks were an obvious omission - though Russell Mael was the 'pioneer', not Ron.

And though not an expert, I think there's a distinction between falsetto and castrato: it's called falsetto because you're doing something false to your voice (ie. you're not a real castrato, you're still 'intact'). He did mention this at one point. A programme on castrati would have been completely different (and there was a documentary a few years ago).

[andy-hughes]

Quite right Quizmonkey - slip of the keyboard.

I think the point you raise is valid - altghough perhaps a mention for context woiuld have been appropriate - it is surely the absence of the castrati that has led to the falsetto - the voice being so reverred and appreciated.

[LoftyLottie]

And it was correct that Falsetto is appealing to women. I can't understand why, but it certainly is;