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Vocal range plays such an important role in classifying singing voices into voice types that sometimes the two terms are confused with one another. A voice type is a particular kind of human singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics; vocal range being only one of those characteristics.
The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: altus), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range.In four-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in choruses by either low women's or high men's voices.
Voice classification is a tool for singers, composers, venues, and listeners to categorize vocal properties and to associate roles with voices. While useful, voice classification systems have been used too rigidly, i.e. a house assigning a singer to a specific type and only casting him or her in roles they consider belonging to this category. [3]
The contralto singing voice has a vocal range that lies between the F below "middle C" (F 3) to two Fs above middle C (F 5) and is the lowest type of female voice.In the lower and upper extremes, some contralto voices can sing from two Bs below middle C (B 2) [1] to two B ♭ s above middle C (B ♭ 5).
Voice classification systems and vocal type terms were initially created for the purpose of classifying voices specifically within classical singing. As new styles of music developed, the quest for common terms for vocalists throughout these styles was sought, resulting in a loose application of the existing classical music practices.
Very high; see also in altissimo alto High; often refers to a particular range of voice, higher than a tenor but lower than a soprano alzate sordini Lift or raise the mutes (i.e. remove mutes) am Steg (Ger.) At the bridge (i.e. playing a bowed string instrument near its bridge, which produces a heavier, stronger tone); see sul ponticello amabile
Diagram of treble, alto, and bass clefs with identical-sounding musical notes aligned vertically Middle C represented on (from left to right) treble, alto, tenor, and bass clefs Three clefs aligned to middle C. A clef (from French: clef 'key') is a musical symbol used to indicate which notes are represented by the lines and spaces on a musical ...
The first of these vibratory forms is known as natural or normal voice; [9] another name for it is modal voice, which is widely used in both speech pathology and vocal pedagogy publications. In this usage, modal refers to the natural disposition or manner of action of the vocal cords.