Ack Värmeland, du sköna (Dear Old Stockholm) – Polyphonic Overtone Singing a cappella

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“Ack Värmeland, du sköna” – Polyphonic overtone singing a cappella (bass + soprano at the same time!)

This beautiful Swedish folk song, whose melody is probably better known in jazz circles under the title “Dear Old Stockholm”, is one of my favorite songs and one of my very first experiences with Swedish choral music. Even back then, a choral arrangement (unfortunately I no longer know the composer) touched me so deeply that it awakened a longing for Sweden in me. At the beginning of the 1980s, I had the privilege of making a radio recording of Swedish folk song compositions with Fritz ter Wey and the Aachen Young Choir in the world’s first radio broadcasting hall in Berlin. All in all, it was an intense experience because I also crossed the GDR border for the first time, which was very exciting and grueling.

I wrote the overtone arrangement in 2014 during a workshop tour in Sweden. The video was recorded shortly afterwards in Aachen by Günther Beckers, the Aachen painter who also painted the winged altar in the background.

„Oh, du stille Zeit“ – Christmas Magic with Choir and Overtone Singing

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In this special Christmas video, I invite you to discover a fascinating excerpt from Jan Heinke’s unique arrangement of “Oh, du stille Zeit”. The piece, performed by the renowned professional ensemble AuditivVokal Dresden under the direction of Olaf Katzer, is a real gem of sound – and I, Wolfgang Saus, had the pleasure of being part of this project as overtone soloist.

What makes this piece so extraordinary are the shimmering overtones that lend the music a spherical depth and create an almost enraptured atmosphere. The polyphonic overtone arrangement is particularly remarkable: fundamental and overtone melodies move independently in different directions. This technique, the highest art of Western overtone singing, requires not only vocal precision, but also masterful control over the resonances of the vocal tract.

Staves for the Magic of Polyphonic Overtone Singing

Here is a small excerpt from the score. It will show you the fascinating structure and magic behind the tone setting. Polyphonic overtone singing is written differently by composers.

Jan Heinke wrote the overtones of all the voices as a separate group of instruments in an accolade, which is an advantage for conductors because they form a sound group. However, in my experience and many experiments, it is much easier for singers to read if the overtone and fundamental parts are written as a two-line accolade, with the overtones at the top and the fundamental part at the bottom.

The indication of partial tone numbers replaces microtonal accidentals, which would again complicate the reading. Overtone singers “know” that a 7th harmonic is to be sung 31 cents lower and a 5th harmonic 14 cents lower.

Notenabschnitt von polyphonem Obertongesang aus Jan Heinkes Chorsatz "Oh du Stille Zeit".

Through the Darkness with the Power of Music

At the time of the performance in 2023, however, my life was not free of challenges: I only had less than 10% vision left, which made any kind of work and especially reading music a huge strain. Since June 2024, my sight has been fully restored thanks to successful surgeries. But it was precisely during this difficult phase that the music and the fantastic collaboration with the ensemble – which I was also able to teach overtone singing at a professional level during this time – gave me endless strength and confidence. Many thanks to Olaf Katzer and AuditivVokal!

I hope you enjoy listening, marveling and discovering – and perhaps you will feel a little of the quiet beauty of this special composition yourself!

Listening Test 2.0: Can you Hear the New Hidden Melody – and a Surprise

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Let’s go to the next level! After the success of the first listening test, a new challenge awaits you: can you recognize the new hidden melody? However, this time it is more difficult to hear because the rhythm has been altered more!

A surprise awaits you at the end of the video: the hidden melody is not only audible in singing, but even without any tones! Be amazed and test how far your hearing really goes.

What awaits you in this video:
– A new, more challenging audio sample
– A surprising discovery in the speaking voice
– Tips on how you can further hone your hearing

Test your ear now and let me know in the comments if you spotted the melody at the end!

If you want to learn how to sing overtones and how you can even make a living from it, subscribe to my newsletter.

If you want to know what happens here, check out listening test 1.

 

Bild des Ringhefts von "Internationale Volkslieder" im Satz für Obertongesang Solo von Jan Heinke.

In memoriam Jan Heinke 3 – Interantional Folksong Collection

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Dear friends of Jan Heinke,

Today I would like to tell you for the third time about this moving story, which continues to touch me deeply.

In April 2022, my friend and musician Jan Heinke passed away. Just a few hours before his death, he wrote me an email with a special attachment and a request. It was to be our last contact on this earth.

In this e-mail, Jan wrote to me that he felt that he was now dying and would no longer be able to complete his work and asked me to take on this task for him. Of course I took on the task. Attached was a huge collection of folk songs from all over the world that Jan had set for overtone singing – several hundred songs! Jan had already started the work in 2013 and had received a work grant from the Kulturstiftung Sachsen.

Together with Jan’s partner Claudia, we have now completed the third and final volume of the series with 196 international folk songs, children’s songs and classics for polyphonic overtone singing. On the occasion of the 1st Advent 2024, this volume will be published here International Folk Songs for Overtone Singing – by Jan Heinke 2022/2024 and on Jan’s website as a free e-book with a free Creative Commons license.

Jan’s nine years of work on these movements will now be made available to the public posthumously, thus fulfilling his wish. As stated in a factual report on the project, the starting point of the work project was the attempt to open up overtone singing as a possibility of voice use for performers and composers alike that has not yet been sufficiently investigated in Western culture. The song arrangements should help to promote the practical use of overtone singing in music.

I am grateful and proud to be able to carry on Jan’s legacy with his companion Claudia and present his work to the world. His music will live on and inspire people – just as he would have wanted.

Wolfgang

Jan Heinke’s Website

PDF Volume 3: International Folk Songs for Overtone Singing – by Jan Heinke 2022/2024

3D-Bild des Ringhefts von "Internationale Volkslieder" im Satz für Obertongesang Solo von Jan Heinke.

PDF Volume 2: Christmas Songs for Overtone Singing – by Jan Heinke 2022/2023

Foto des Notenbandes Weihnachtslieder im Satz für Obertongesang von Jan Heinke

PDF Volume 1: German Folk Songs for Overtone Singing – by Jan Heinke 2022

Foto des Notenbandes Deutsche Volkslieder im Satz für Obertongesang von Jan Heinke

Decoded: The Hidden Melody in Syllables!

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Imagine you could hear a melody that remains inaudible to most people – an acoustic illusion that challenges your senses and revolutionizes your understanding of sound. This is exactly what happens in my viral listening test that fascinates people worldwide.
In my new video, I dive deep into the science of sound with VoceVista and reveal the fascinating acoustic mechanisms behind this exciting listening experience. What to expect:

  • A detailed spectrum analysis that reveals the hidden structures of sound
  • A dynamic spectrogram that reveals the journey of your sound perception
  • Insights into the neuronal processes that determine how our brain decodes melodies
  • The scientific solution to the riddle: How do we perceive melodies that don’t seem to exist?

Let yourself be enchanted by the wonders of acoustics and expand your perception of sound. This insight will change your listening habits forever!

Calculating the Harmonic Series – a New Tool for Musicians, Singers and Acoustic Enthusiasts

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Recently, in one of my 432 Hz discussions, it would have been helpful to have the tone names and frequencies of the overtones to hand. The

So I programmed myself a suitable tool (with AI help) that I find super practical. The new tool is now available on my special page, with which you can calculate the first 32 partials of a tone – in a matter of seconds!

The special thing about it:

  • Freely selectable concert pitch frequency: perfect for historically informed music, experimental tunings or individual applications.
  • Notation in both systems: The results appear in both German and American notation.
  • Exact frequencies and cent deviations: Recognize the differences to equal temperament immediately.

The tool is flexible and intuitive: you can enter either the frequency (e.g. 432 Hz) or the note name (e.g. “E”) as the keynote. The compact table then shows you all the relevant details.

There is also a second tool that allows you to calculate intervals between any frequency pairs in cents. Together, these two tools make analysis and comparisons incredibly fast and precise – ideal for singers, composers, choir directors and sound researchers!

I use the tool myself to quickly determine tone names and frequencies in relation to changing concert pitch frequencies. What used to involve a lot of manual calculation or copying from VoceVista is now done by this tool in just a few clicks.

Try it out.

PS: Let me know what creative ideas or applications you come up with using this tool!

-> The Harmonic Series

Wolfgang Saus Lecture (German): Overtones – Discover the Magic of Your Voice!

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Overtones – Discover the Magic of Your Voice

A lecture on the effect of overtones at the Symposium Music Resonance 2024 in Bad Zwesten: Discover the magic of your voice – Experience fascinating sounds, calm your mind and create unique worlds of sound.

This lecture is currently going a bit viral, with 10,000 views in just two weeks, which makes me very happy. Because I think the content is absolutely worth spreading – of course, otherwise I wouldn’t be giving it. I truly believe that with the voice and enhanced listening you can change consciousness and the world and create the new world we wish for.

Quotes from the comments:

“It’s 0:40 and I can’t interrupt this.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who has such a multispectral intelligence. You share something, you have something to say.”

“YouTube suggested a real gem of a video to me; I’m flashed; it’s totally fascinating.”

“I had so much planned for today. I listened to the lecture instead. So incredibly good.”

Of Overtones and Love Messages: How a Video Redefines the Boundaries of Vocal Control

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In a universe where Valentine’s Day, Ash Wednesday and World Sound Healing Day magically come together, a fascinating video reveals the hidden world of vocal sounds: a spectrogram of curious vibrations that look like letters and form the words “I LOVE YOU”. But what exactly is behind this amazing phenomenon?

Welcome to the world of the secret language of overtones, a realm that only a few have explored. As the author of this blog, I have probably mastered one of the most precise controls of human vocal resonance on the planet. Because let’s be honest, who else but me could accomplish something so masterful? (Of course, you are welcome to prove me wrong at this point. And I would be very happy if you did. Just give it a try!)

The voice, a miracle of nature, harbours more secrets than most people can imagine. Did you know that the true essence of the voice lies in the resonances of the vocal tract?

Yes, the overtone chord may seem like the star of the stage, but the real magic lies in the resonances that make our voices unique. This is just the beginning of an exciting journey I want to take you on. Are you ready to push the boundaries of controlling your voice? Then subscribe to my newsletter so you never miss a post. Because there is still a lot to discover in the world of vocal resonance.

How Overtones Harmonize Your Brain

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Imagine how a simple hearing test could change the world. That’s exactly what’s happening with my hearing test, which is attracting more and more attention – and not just in philosophical and neuroscience circles. But what makes it so special that it garners such widespread interest?

Since 2022, this test has been a key component of a groundbreaking educational concept for children. Developed under the leadership of the Omni Aqua Foundation by Akiko Stein in collaboration with Prof. Mag. rer. nat. Dr. phil. Annemarie Seither-Preisler, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Peter Schneider, and myself, the concept, named F-dUR – Peace through Primordial Sound, is based on the unique properties of water and overtones. These elements, combined with mindfulness exercises and the synchronization of the brain hemispheres, foster a deep empathic connection with oneself, fellow humans, and nature from an early age. We are convinced that this approach is key to inner peace, which in turn is essential for peaceful and empathetic interaction with each other.

In the video excerpt from a thirty-minute documentary about the F-dUR concept, which you can see here, you’ll dive into the fascinating world of sound. The documentary features exciting interviews with leading neuroscientists and reveals the unexpected power of overtone awareness. This clip is just a taste of the whole story. You can watch the full film, which takes you deeper into this innovative concept, here. Dive with us into the world of sound and discover how a hearing test can do much more than just detect tones – it can build a bridge to deep inner peace and empathy.

Foto des Sammelbandes Weichnachtslieder von Jan Heinke

In memoriam Jan Heinke 2 – Christmas Song Collection

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Dear fellow aficionados of Jan Heinke’s overtone music,

I would like to tell you again today about this moving story that touched me deeply. In April 2022, my friend and musician Jan Heinke passed away. But just a few hours before his death, he wrote me an email with a special attachment.

In this email, Jan told me that he felt he would no longer be able to complete his work and asked me to take care of it. I knew what to do. Attached was a huge collection of folk songs from all over the world that Jan had set for overtone singing – several hundred songs! Jan had already started working on this in 2013 and had received a work grant from the Kulturstiftung Sachsen.

Together with Jan’s partner Claudia, we have now completed the second volume of the series with 35 Christmas carol movements for polyphonic overtone singing. On the occasion of the 3rd Advent 2023, this volume will be published here and on Jan’s website as a free e-book with a free Creative Commons license.

Jan’s nine years of dedicated work on these arrangements will now be posthumously shared with the public, fulfilling his cherished desire. According to a report on the project, the initial objective was to explore the potential of overtone singing as a vocal technique for both performers and composers in Western culture, an area that had not yet been extensively investigated. These song arrangements were intended to encourage the practical application of overtone singing in music.

I am both grateful and honored to continue Jan’s legacy and share his remarkable work with the world. His music will live on and inspire others – exactly as he wished.

Warm regards, Wolfgang

Jan Heinke – Memories of Jan

Download: Christmas Songs set for Overtone Singing by Jan Heinke – ebook

Photo of the anthology Christmas Songs by Jan Heinke