vocal range
how far apart should the alto line be from the soprano and tenor lines?
In general, the alto and soprano lines should always be within an octave of each other and (even more preferably) should stay within a sixth of each other. If the soprano line starts on high E, your alto line should be no lower than low E and preferably above F. On the other hand, the alto should stay about the same distance above the tenor line. You don't want your tenor to be more than a seventh below the alto and again preferably within a sixth. By keeping the alto within this range, you bridge the distance between the tenor and soprano voices and ensure that they remain harmoniously connected.
how do we use the alto in four-part writing?
In general, the upper voices (tenor, alto, and soprano) ought to be grouped together and react strongly to each other's movements. It's important to keep a fair amount of distance between all the upper voices and the bass, which kind of gets to do its own thing. Among the upper voices, the alto plays the important role of filling in the space between the tenor and soprano voices.
Barbershop music is divided into what four parts?
Tenor, Lead (Melody), Baritone and Bass
tenor di grazia
a high-range, light-toned type of tenor voice especially well-suited to singing fast musical passages
heldentenor
a lower-range, dark, very powerful voice often used for heroic characters
When the bass is extremely low, it's common to do what to one of the upper registers?
double it or divide it into multiple parts
average tenor range used in choral music
from D below middle C to A above middle C.
tenor (within the 3 types)
the highest of these types
soprano
the highest-pitched human voice type, though it can also refer to a singer who possesses that voice type. Both women and children (boys or girls) can be sopranos.
bass (definition)
the lowest line of the four-part harmony
bass
the lowest of these types
mezzo soprano
the medium-range voice type
baritone
the middle of these types
average range of an operatic tenor soloist
two octaves, from C below middle C to C above middle C.
alto
The alto is the second-highest of the four voices, sitting above the tenor but below the soprano.
In many scores, the alto and soprano voices will be written in the same space. This is especially true when written for piano, as soprano and alto voices typically occupy the treble clef, while tenor and bass voices are typically written in the bass clef. So, how do you tell the alto and soprano lines apart?
The alto's notes are traditionally written with stems facing down, while the soprano's point up.
contralto
The lowest of these voice types
the average range of a baritone
about an octave and a half, from low G to E above middle C.
inner voices
alto and tenor "the glue that holds it all together"
countertenor
an adult male may have a singing voice higher than the average tenor range and can be designated a countertenor
what part sings the lead in barbershop music?
another baritone
why do community choirs usually have more "basses" than "tenors"?
because most men are baritones
why is choral music usually separated into only four parts: soprano and alto for women, tenor and bass for men?
choral music doesn't use the terms 'tenor' and 'bass' the same way that vocal soloists do. In choral music, 'bass' just means the lower male part, and 'tenor' means the higher one. Since most baritones don't have vocal ranges high enough to sing tenor parts, they generally sing bass in choirs.
3 types of operatic sopranos
coloratura, lyric, dramatic
what is the typical range for basses?
from the E above middle C all the way down to the second E below middle C
lyric baritone
has a range on the higher end of the baritone category and a sweet, light tone color. Composers have written many comic roles for this voice
dramatic sopranos
has a voice of great power and volume, and she often specializes in music that makes heroic statements
lyric tenor
has an average soloist's vocal range and a supple voice that specializes in singing flowing melodies. Lyric tenors often play romantic leads
coloratura sopranos
has an especially high range and a smaller vocal volume and is skilled at singing very fast and intricate musical passages.
dramatic baritone
have darker and lower voices than lyric baritones. They're often cast as villains
bass-baritone
just what it sounds like: a baritone with a lower bass extension. Bass-baritones often have powerful, commanding voices. They sing roles like the mythical god Wotan in Wagner's Ring of the Nibelungs.
3 subcategories of baritones in operatic music
lyric baritone, dramatic baritone, bass-baritone
The average vocal range used by sopranos in choral music
middle C to high A above the treble staff
range of sopranos who are trained as soloists
middle C to high C above the treble staff
does the bass have to follow the "sixth" rule?
no, you can find the bass at a 10th, 11th, or even 12th below the tenor line. That's because the upper voices are supposed to maintain a good degree of distance from the bass at all times.
baritone (defintion)
refers to the medium-range voice category in adult males or to a singer who possesses that voice. The term comes from a Greek word meaning 'deep voice,' and that's just what a baritone has.
outer voices
soprano and bass
what are the 3 general categories soprano women's voices fall into?
soprano, mezzo soprano, contralto
lyric sopranos
specializes in a warm, beautiful tone and flowing melodic lines. Lyric sopranos play many of the romantic females in opera
3 types of operatic tenors
tenor di grazia, lyric tenor, heldentenor
three main types of adult male voices
tenor, baritone, bass
typical range for altos
the F or G below middle C, to second D above middle C
range
the distance between the lowest and highest notes that a voice or instrument can produce
tenor
the highest common voice category in adult males, or to a singer who possesses that voice type.