Repercussion (singing)

Repercussion (latinized form of "repeating" or "rebounding") is a special vocal singing technique consisting on singing a tone with a constant pitch.

The technique has been and is especially used in Gregorian chant[1][2] where repetitions of sounds are prescribed by certain neumes, such as a distropha or a tristropha. The vocals are modulated in volume, without necessarily resulting in a pitch fluctuation, or a vibrato. If the singing is not performed by a soloist, the singers modulate their voices in unison according to the direction of the cantor. The perfect singing of repercussion requires vocal training and appropriate respiratory support.

A similar term, which means something different, is the word "repercussa". This is another name for the recitation tone, an important structural tone within the church modes.

See also

References
  1. L.F. Heckenlively The fundamentals of Gregorian chant 5876262226 1978 - Page 213 "However this repercussion of the Quilisma note must be very light and delicate, such as the repercussions on the “ levé ” which we have seen in the Strophicus. This last procedure is preferable and much closer to the Gregorian Tradition; this repercussion of the Quilisma Note adds an immaterial, etherial quality to the phrase, which would be lost in the first interpretation."
  2. Willi Apel Gregorian Chant 0253326508 - 1958 Page 107 "Another repercussion of seven notes occurs at the beginning of the Offertory Reges Tharsis [461], and one of nine notes in the Gradual Quemadmodum [1478] on “(siti)vit.” b. "
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