Chapter 7

Which of these soprano voice types is a mid-range female voice?

A mezzo-soprano

What is the best way to discover the singing potential of your own voice?

Have a session with a good voice teacher.

At what age does the human voice usually reach full maturity?

In the mid-twenties, and it continues to darken and strengthen for years after that.

Does a powerful voice guarantee fame and fortune as an opera star?

No, musical ability, training, commitment, and personality are also required, but a good voice is a great and personal gift and it should at the very least be discovered and acknowledged.

What is a basso profundo is capable of singing?

very low notes

Which of these soprano voice types has a highly flexible voice capable of fast runs and trills?

A coloratura soprano

Which of these is the lowest female voice type?

A contralto (or alto)

Which of these soprano voice types has a large sound capable of conveying powerful emotions?

A dramatic soprano

When did the practice of producing castrati die out?

At the end of the Classical Era.

Why is a castrato (an unusual voice type) capable of an unusually high and powerful voice?

Because of surgical alteration of his genitalia.

It is not uncommon to find countertenors in what type of music?

Both answers are correct.

Can you get a good idea of a person's singing voice from listening to his or her speaking voice?

Sometimes, but not always.

Which type of tenor is more likely to use his head voice?

a tenor in a rock band or a tenor who sings popular music

What is bass (or "basso" in Italian) with a wonderful, dark, dense quality is called?

black bass

Every male singer usually has two voice types, a chest voice and a head voice (falsetto). Which is more powerful?

chest voice

A countertenor has a normal male voice but sings almost exclusively in which voice?

head voice

Every male singer usually has two voice types, a chest voice and a head voice (falsetto). Which is the strange-sounding, high-pitched voice?

head voice

Which is the highest voice type: mezzo-soprano, alto, or soprano?

soprano

Which of these is the correct listing of the six main voice types, in order from highest to lowest?

soprano, Mezzo-soprano, contralto (alto), tenor, baritone, bass.

Which is the highest voice type: baritone, tenor, or bass?

tenor

Which of these is a high male voice type?

tenor