Date of Award

5-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music

Department

School of Music

First Advisor

Ben Morris

Abstract

In Western music notation, there is no specified system of notation for screamed vocals, a style of singing that has become increasingly popular since the late 1970s with the advent of metal music and seen increased interest in screams in other genres since. Screams are a unique and diverse vehicle of delivery that can be differentiated according to timbre, technique, pitch and physiology. This research aims to first identify the anatomical and timbral differences between named screams and create a database of screams to be studied. The next task is to design a notational system appropriate for screams and then apply the system to existing repertoire and an original composition. In doing so, analysts may access this tool to more accurately study music which uses screaming, especially metal and rock music.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Banshee Scream.mp3 (97 kB)
Chortle.mp3 (69 kB)
Death Growl.mp3 (193 kB)
Gang Vocals.mp3 (83 kB)
Goblin Scream.mp3 (138 kB)
High Fry.mp3 (248 kB)
High Growl.mp3 (138 kB)
Low Fry.mp3 (221 kB)
Low Growl.mp3 (138 kB)
Mid Fry.mp3 (221 kB)
Mid Growl.mp3 (152 kB)
Pig Squeal.mp3 (118 kB)
Pitched Fry.mp3 (193 kB)
Pitched Growl.mp3 (145 kB)
Relaxed High Growl.mp3 (111 kB)
Tunnel Throat.mp3 (152 kB)
Walrus Scream.mp3 (193 kB)
White Noise.mp3 (63 kB)
Yell.mp3 (124 kB)

Share

COinS

Tell us how this article helped you.

 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.