Polyphonism, in its entertainment sense, is the imitation of sounds other than speech, such as the humming of bees, the bleating of sheep, many of which cannot be made ventriloquially, and so form no deception as to the source from which they emanate.
A few general hints will aid you in making a beginning, and with practice you can produce most of the imitations with sufficient accuracy simply by following the instructions given.
Many a famous ventriloquist has enlivened his shows by the addition of these sounds.
The Mosquito.
-Beginning first with the simpler sounds try that made by a mosquito.
For this you hold your throat and mouth in position as for the ventriloquial drone.
To acquire the ability to make this drone, take a deep breath and, while holding it, make a retching sound at the back of the throat as if (to put it delicately) trying to be sick.
As you do this utter a prolonged "Ah," exhaling slowly.
At first the "ah" will very likely be little more than a grunt, but by trying again and prolonging the sound as you make a greater effort, the exclamation will begin to sound like an uncertain drone, finally settling down to a clear, sustained hum like that of a distant bee drone, from which it derives its name.
Now for the mosquito you make the sound very shrill-in fact, at the very highest pitch you can reach-while at the same time straining with the chest.
A Bee.
-With the vocal organs in the drone position use considerable pressure upon the chest and make the pitch lower than for the mosquito.
Produce a handkerchief, and as you sound the drone chase the imaginary bee about the room.
After pretending to catch it, put the handkerchief containing the bee (?) into the pocket.
Then, apparently forgetting that it is there, produce the handkerchief and appear to allow the bee to escape.
Bluebottle.
-The sound of this fly is made by blowing through the lips until they vibrate rapidly while you are uttering a droning sound -not the ventriloquial drone, however, but a near moan about the pitch of the hum of a bluebottle.
The vibration of the lips gives the sound made by the vibration of the wings, which, reinforced by the added moan, forms a realistic though rather exaggerated imitation of the insect.
Chase this also about the room and when you want to take breath cause it to rest for a moment on the curtains or on the wall.
Having gained your breath start the fly again by a flip of your handkerchief and chase it until you either capture it or it gets away.
Your first attempts at getting the near hum of a bluebottle will result in a good deal of spluttering, and its attainment will be accelerated or retarded according to the formation of your lips.
Even a famous ventriloquist needs to start small.
Parrot.
-For this bird and his talk use the Punch voice, but to do this, recall just how the Punch voice sounds or take the first opportunity to listen to a good Punch and Judy performer.
Then bring the teeth together and stretch the tongue until it touches the roof of the mouth near the back of the front upper teeth.
You must carefully avoid all labials as the bird does.
By going to a cage and giving the imitation boldly no one could tell it was not the parrot speaking.
Ducks.
-Don't say "Quack," because a duck, having no lips, does not say "quack," though he is generally credited with doing so.
If you don't use your lips and try to say "'Uack," opening your mouth as wide as you can, as the duck does his bill, and make the exaggerated action of the throat which he does also, you will get the imitation right.
The first "'uack" must be loud and the following ones quick and fainter.
Visit a duck pond with a loaf of bread, and the ducks themselves will instruct you as long as the bread lasts.
Cat:The household pet does not say "me-iow" as generally believed, but "eiow," which may be imitated with little difficulty with the Punch voice.
Many more sounds can be made which will enchant your audience, much as any famous ventriloquist is able to do.