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.
