The first intonation study we’ll examine looks at singing in tune with vowels. Hagerman and Sundberg found that, in a barbershop setting, the vowels did indeed have an impact on the tuning.
“As different vowels were used when the two quartets sang their cadences, the effect of vowel on intonation should be examined. This can be made by comparing the averages pertaining to the [ma] – and [mo] – cadences as sung by quartet B. Fig. II-A-2 shows the correlation” (30).
To look at Fig. II-A-2: click on this link. The chart can be found on page 8 of the PFD file (or page 33 in the document).
They go on to say, “With respect to interval averages the correlation coefficient is very close to 1, but the slope of the best fitting line deviates slightly from 1. This indicates that narrow intervals were sung some cents narrower and the widest intervals were sung somewhat wider on the syllable [mo] than on the syllable [ma]” (30, 32).
Now, many of you may be confused by the second quote. In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at exactly what it means.