I love to sing. In fact, one of the stories I told to uncover my success patterns (way back in 1994 with the help of my friend, George Kuiawa) took place while I was singing in my high school choir. During a rousing rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus (an annual tradition at my school) there was a point when someone hit a high note that wasn’t on the sheet music. At first I thought it was Margaret Jarrell (she was the only one with the range and chutzpah to pull it off) but she swore it wasn’t her.
By way of explanation, our choir director described the phenomenon of the “third voice” – an acoustical effect audible only when all voices are in full resonance. It brought spine tingles believing we had just created and experienced something so magical.
A few years ago, I retold this story to JoAnn Hogue and Brianna Booth. Curious to better understand the science behind the phenomenon, we researched the “third voice,” but were unable to confirm or further explain it. I began to doubt it had ever happened in the first place. The choir performed at the Civic (now Keller) Auditorium that night so long ago. There was excitement in the air. It must have been a figment of my over-active imagination.
Then, a few days ago, my daughter was watching a TV special on barbershop quartets (too much TV you may say, but she loves a cappella harmony.) In an interview, one of the singers referred to the “fifth voice” which I’ve since found is very well documented. Wikipedia offers: “…the defining characteristic of the barbershop style is the ‘ringing’ chord. This is a specific and well-defined acoustical effect, also referred to as ‘the fifth voice,’ ‘expanded sound,’ ‘the angel’s voice,’ or ‘the overtone’… the effect is audible only on certain kinds of chords, and only when all voices are equally rich in harmonics and justly tuned and balanced.”
As an adult, it’s easy to rationalize this away. After all, we were a high school choir. Even at our best, how close could we possibly come to being able to create such perfect harmonics? Logic dictates a different story, but I’m not ready to let go of one of my most magical childhood memories. So, while it’s unlikely it happened exactly as I recall it, I now have confirmation that it’s possible and that’s enough for me.
That’s where I live – where science and magic intersect. Welcome to my world.