Yma Sumac ((September 13, 1922 (birth certificate) or September 10, 1922 (later documents) – November 1, 2008) was a Peruvian-American coloratura soprano. She was one of the most famous exponents of exotica music during the 1950s.
Sumac became an international success based on her extreme vocal range. She had five octaves according to some reports, but other reports (and recordings) document four-and-a-half at the peak of her singing career. (A typical trained singer has a range of about three octaves.) Yma Sumac sold more than 60 million records which makes her one of the best-selling Latin Americans in history and the best-selling Peruvian in historyIn one live recording of "Chuncho", she sings a range of over four and a half octaves, from B2 to G♯7. She was able to sing notes in the low baritone register as well as notes above the range of an ordinary soprano. Both low and high extremes can be heard in the song "Chuncho (The Forest Creatures)" (1953). She was also apparently able to sing in a remarkable "double voice".In 1954, composer and music critic Virgil Thomson described Sumac's voice as "very low and warm, very high and birdlike", noting that her range "is very close to five octaves, but is in no way inhuman or outlandish in sound." In 2012, audio recording restoration expert John H. Haley favorably compared Sumac's tone to opera singers Isabella Colbran, Maria Malibran, and Pauline Viardot. He described Sumac's voice as not having the "bright penetrating peal of a true coloratura soprano", but having in its place "an alluring sweet darkness ... virtually unique in our time."
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Some of their strengths
Yma Sumac has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Energetic, Curious, Intelligent, Communicative, Optimistic, Hardworking, and Loyal.
Smart and Sophisticated
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Yma Sumac is someone who is a smart, sophisticated, and organized person who displays kindness and grace in every day interactions, and who also has a passionate soul. A person who sees life as a journey not a destination.
Strong and Resilient
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Yma Sumac well know them as someone who can be strong, expansive, and stable like a big tree.
Optimistic and Frank
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Yma Sumac as someone who is optimistic, principled, adventurous, and direct.
A person who isn't shy about expressing their opinions, loves competition, loves learning things themself, who is known for being inventive and original, and who loves being surrounded by friends and loved ones.
Easygoing and Energetic
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Yma Sumac is someone who has an easygoing nature and a healthy sense of humor, with a mind that requires constant stimulation in order to feel fulfilled.
They are also someone who is altruistic, tolerant, and sophisticated, and who tends to be a perfectionist who is always working to try and make everything and everyone better.
Altruistic and Purposeful
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Yma Sumac tends to be someone who has a desire to be of service to a higher calling and who is always trying to perfect things. Who can be practical and polished, reserved and methodical, and who tends to trust internal judgment before trusting anyone else at face value.
Some of Yma Sumac's challenges
While Yma Sumac has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Yma Sumac can be Stubborn, Difficult, Perfectionist, Hypocritical, Self-centered, Suspicious, and Pushy.
Difficult and Perfectionist
One of Yma Sumac's key challenges is that they are someone who can be difficult and too much of a perfectionist.
Yma Sumac must also exercise caution as they can have a hard time reconciling wants and needs, and can be short-tempered and aggressive.
Pushy and Restless
Yma Sumac is someone who can be arrogant and bossy, who can have difficulty concentrating and focusing, be unable to separate emotions from business decisions, and who can engage in excessive spending in support of an expensive lifestyle and habits.
Critical and Bossy
Finally, Yma Sumac also can be too focused on the small details of life, try to control whatever is happening, and be finicky and demanding.
