To Sing without Words

[orphans]

What is the term for this action? I've searched a lot and I've gotten a lot of different answers, but it seems as though there is no definite term meaning, "to sing without words."

I even found a forum for those who are in the music field, discussing it.

Some terms so far, vocalise, vocalize, croon, chant, intone, "wordless song" and such. I'm just curious what are some opinions on it, since as far as I can tell, it's more accurate to describe how it sounds?

[Ganlon Martel]

Do you mean singing with just sounds or are you talking about Scat which is singing with nosensical words?

[orphans]

Singing with just sounds. Sorry... ^ ^;; I should have been more clear.

[Christina Bredith]

I'm not sure there is a specific term for it because the concept of singing doesn't necessitate lyrics. Just because you say that someone is singing doesn't mean there are actual words involved; there just usually are words involved.

[Vigil]

Animals do it.

In fact my dogs do it every time I walk through the door. It's called barking. Now that that mystery is solved my next cunundrum is whether to cut out their vocal cords or hoc them to PETA fanatics.

And in case you're wondering, they are the we-have-a-mystery-freezer-in-our-basement-and-you-don't-get-to-know-why kind.

[Relt PeltFelter]

I think maybe you mean throat-singing? Either Tuvan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuvan_throat_singing) or Inuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit_throat_singing) varieties, the two relatively well-known kinds.

[orphans]

@Relt, Ah! That seems like the type of thing I was looking for. Was wondering if there was some sort of word specifically for it. Overtone singing, it seems like, though.... there are other variants and such... but, it's a place to start doing more reading on, Thanks!

@Vigil, I don't know what to say to that, so I'm going to just sad face at you... >:

@Christina, That makes sense after some thought, though I had always thought that to sing a song was to sing with words.

[Vendredi]

i.e. to vocalise?

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/vocalise

Edit: Just realized I'm bumping an old old thread. Feel free to delete.

[Bard]

There is a Hebrew term for it, which when Romanized is spelled Athaerra. Often when translated into English the word humming is applied, but this is incorrect. The idea is the expression of feelings through "vocal tone", which is the best descriptor I can come up with. There is also an old Persian term for the same thing, but I will need to track it down, will edit this post when I find it. As a note, in the "Three Songs of Night," the songs are described similar to a musical work, as follows" her voice expressed no word, or concept that could be expressed as such, but the C that came forth from her lips was of the bright glory of morning..." hope that this has helped in some small way.