--HENRY WARD BEECHER.

 

_Change of Pitch Produces Emphasis_

 

This is a highly important statement. Variety in pitch maintains the hearer's

interest, but one of the surest ways to compel attention--to secure unusual

emphasis--is to change the pitch of your voice suddenly and in a marked degree.

A great contrast always arouses attention. White shows whiter against black; a

cannon roars louder in the Sahara silence than in the Chicago hurly burly--these

are simple illustrations of the power of contrast.

 

"What is Congress going to do next? ----------------------------------- (High

pitch) | | | I do not know." ----------------- (Low pitch)

 

By such sudden change of pitch during a sermon Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis recently

achieved great emphasis and suggested the gravity of the question he had raised.

 

The foregoing order of pitch-change might be reversed with equally good effect,

though with a slight change in seriousness--either method produces emphasis when

used intelligently, that is, with a common-sense appreciation of the sort of

emphasis to be attained.

 

In attempting these contrasts of pitch it is important to avoid unpleasant

extremes. Most speakers pitch their voices too high. One of the secrets of Mr.