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The Human Voice

What鈥檚 happening to us physiologically, chemically and psychologically when we sing?

"The human voice is the organ of the soul" - so says the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 sing because I鈥檓 happy, I鈥檓 happy because I sing鈥 claimed US philosopher and psychologist William James.

鈥淲hen I sing, I believe. I鈥檓 honest鈥︹ Frank Sinatra.

The human voice is the only musical instrument just about everyone can play. Every culture in the world has singing as a part of human ritual and celebration. Rebecca Kesby looks at the act of singing itself. What鈥檚 happening physiologically and chemically to us when we sing - and why does it make us feel happy - and free. She takes lessons from Beat boxers in South Africa - and acapella choirs in Croatia - and talks to scientists, opera, and throat singers. She meets the midwives who sing before work and the miners who sing after.

(Photo: A woman sings into a microphone. Credit: V von Bonin/BIPs/Getty Images)

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Mon 10 Mar 2014 03:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Wed 5 Mar 2014 00:32GMT
  • Wed 5 Mar 2014 04:32GMT
  • Wed 5 Mar 2014 15:32GMT
  • Sun 9 Mar 2014 19:32GMT
  • Mon 10 Mar 2014 03:32GMT

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