Italian Musical Terms Used in English - Voices

Voices

Soprano upper The highest vocal line
Mezzo-soprano middle-upper Between soprano and alto
Alto high Second-highest vocal line
Contralto against high Alto, esp. a female alto
Basso low Or "bass;" the lowest vocal line
Basso profondo deep and low A very deep bass voice
Castrato castrated A male singer, castrated so as to be able to sing soprano (now sung by women, conventional countertenors, or sopranisti)

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Famous quotes containing the word voices:

    Already the new-born children interpret love
    In the voices of mothers.
    Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)

    These are the voices of the pastors calling
    And calling like the long echoes in long sleep,
    Generations of shepherds to generations of sheep.
    Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)

    To you, God the Singer, our voices we raise,
    to you Song Incarnate, we give all our praise,
    to you, Holy Spirit, our life and our breath,
    be glory for ever, through life and through death.
    Peter Davison (20th century)