Overtone Singing Harmonic Dimensions of the Human Voice

An indispensable guide to a deeper understanding of the nature of the human voice and its harmonic possibilities from East to West.

Overtone Singing is the most comprehensive book ever written on the hidden harmonies of the human voice. Ethnomusicologist and vocalist Mark van Tongeren offers fascinating insights into the timeless and universal aspects of sound and vibration. Grounded in the author’s decade-long study of Asian music, the book draws upon field work, interviews with Eastern and Western musicians, and copious scholarship to present a multidisciplinary vision of sound that runs from global music to the science of acoustics and perception, onward to the philosophical and spiritual dimensions of music. Written in a nontechnical style, this generously illustrated book is an indispensable guide for musicians, listeners, and performers seeking a deeper understanding of the nature of the human voice and its harmonic possibilities from East to West.

Mark van Tongeren is best known for his work as an overtone/throat singer. He was a performer with the Amsterdam-based experimental group Silo Theatre and the seven-piece improvisation band Oorbeek. His recent work includes the performance Incognito Ergo Sum with Superstringtrio, and the Overtone Singing Marathon based upon his cycle of compositions “Zeropoint,” performed in collaboration with composer Paul Oomen. He lives in Taiwan.