The singer I decided to research was Al Jarreau, with focus on his song ‘Letter Perfect’ from the live album ‘Look to the Rainbow.’ I initially found this form of jazz singing quite hilarious when I first listened, however I kept going back to it due to its entrancing qualities. Once you get past the fact it sounds like complete gibberish, the fluctuations in his voice are unparalleled. 

This is called SCAT SINGING 

1) Travis Yu put forward a clip from a Cantonese opera; 

youtube.com/watch?v=fKeTJg697ys&t=295s

Waves of flute music resonates,

Clouds of tobacco smoke getting lost,

Melancholic, could not bear looking,

Timid, afraid to step forward,

Pity on the horse, pity down the horse,

Please send my parents this aria of mine,

Don’t feel sorry for me, don’t miss me.  

Cantonese is an extremely complex language, unlike English where words have a specific meaning, Cantonese words can vary in meaning due to the tone, context etc. 

2) Monica suggested; Gersang Der Junglinge by Karlheinz Stockhausen 

A sonic collage of operatic voices, childlike singing and chanting. The voices fluctuate in tenor and volume, echoing in and around the ambient whooshing effects. Lots of spatiality. 

This is an important piece within the Sound Art canon, recorded in its 50s. Reminds me of ‘The Dream’ by Delia Derbyshire.  

Another famous piece is ‘Contactor’.