THE SYMPHONY OF SPORTS
A SoundSite created by Joe Phillippi
The world of sports is an incredibly important part of the human experience. We laugh, we cry, and we bond over these past times, both players and audience members alike. In the heat of the moment however, when we’re all sitting there focusing on the game, we miss out on minute details that we might otherwise take notice of. We miss out on a litany of sounds that are very worthy of study. The Symphony of Sports.
The first sounds that we miss are the sounds of the games themselves, the sound of the ball hitting the bat at speeds upwards of 90 mph, the foot hitting the ball with such power to send it flying into the air, and the sound of shoes screeching against the floor of the court. These are the sounds of professionals, experts at their craft, the fastest and strongest of us doing their best to win for their teams and their families. These sounds also do something fascinating, they add tension to an already tense game. When the audience is quiet, when they are engrossed and leaning into their seats whether at home or at the field, these sounds create an atmosphere of pure anxiety.
Dom Errico (1978-2021)
Perhaps the most easily missed sound, the most overlooked in the heat of the moment, but absolutely one of the most, if not the most important sound of the entire game is the announcer. The conductor to the symphony of sports. Of all the announcers, there is one that is very special to our city and our university, Dom Errico (October 20, 1978), the steel city voice.
The announcer’s voice is an important part of the athletic soundscape because it provides the commentary in a fast paced environment, relaying events and actions to the audience as they watch. The emotive power of Dom Errico’s voice can be understood through the lens of music. In this recording of Errico announcing at a Duquesne football game you can hear his bass-baritone range. In opera, the bass-baritone often plays an authoritative role, from King Agamemnon in Gluck’s “Iphigénie en Aulide” (1773) to Sharpless in Puccini's “Madama Butterfly” .
Joe, A baritone that attends Duquesne University
This voice type fits the role of an announcer because we tend to perceive those with that kind of register to be authoritative, respectable. These types of voices are perfect for men who stand above and say the words that everyone wants, even needs to hear. His articulation is also noteworthy. Errico tends to drag out the ends of his sentences with added vibrato, as if he is singing. This is also apparent in his breath control, as he narrates the drama of the game in long, controlled phrases. I’m not the first person to hear everyday sounds as a symphony.
Have you ever observed that your emotions or excitement for a game were influenced by the ups and downs in a sports announcer's speech?
Yes?
No?
Something else?
