| Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary 3,592,297,657 visitors served. |
Dictionary/ thesaurus | Medical dictionary | Legal dictionary | Financial dictionary | Acronyms | Idioms | Encyclopedia | Wikipedia encyclopedia | ? |
Contralto |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.01 sec. |
|
|
contralto (kəntrăl`tō), female voice of lowest pitch. Originally, the term denoted a second voice set against (contra) a high voice (alto); thus, a second high voice. Since most second parts were for a high male voice or a low woman's voice, the term came to mean a low woman's voice, pitched about a fifth below the soprano. See also alto alto, singing voice the range of which is lower than the soprano by the interval of a fifth. More generally, the term refers to the register in which this voice sings, i.e.
..... Click the link for more information. ; countertenor countertenor, a male singing voice in the alto range. Singing in this range requires either a special vocal technique called falsetto, or a high extension of the tenor range. ..... Click the link for more information. ; voice voice, sound produced by living beings. The source of the sound in human speaking and singing is the vibration of the vocal cords, which are inside the larynx, and the production of the sounds is called phonation. ..... Click the link for more information. . altoor contraltoVoice or register that extends approximately from the F below middle C to the second D above it. The second-highest part in four-part music, it is normally sung by women. The name derives from contratenor altus, the part above the tenor part. It is used for some instruments that play principally in the alto range (alto saxophone, alto flute, etc.). See also countertenor. contralto 1. Music the lowest female voice, usually having a range of approximately from F a fifth below middle C to D a ninth above it Contralto a female voice of low range. The chest voice (ending with A-flat or B-flat of the first octave) is its most characteristic and expressive register. It has a rich, deep timbre. Among the opera parts calling for a controlto are OI’ga in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Konchakovna in Borodin’s Prince Igor. Composers have often written the parts of boys and youths for a contralto; some examples are Vania in Glinka’s Ivan Susanin and Siebel in Gounod’s Faust. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
|
| Encyclopedia |
| Free Tools: |
For surfers:
Free toolbar & extensions |
Word of the Day |
Help
For webmasters: Free content | Linking | Lookup box | Double-click lookup | Partner with us |
|---|