contralto
/kɒnˈtɹæltəʊ/ noun
Forms contraltos contralti
- noun (music) The lowest female voice or voice part, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to the same musical pitch range, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor. Originally the contratenor altus was a high countermelody sung against the tenor or main melody.
Synonyms
Etymology
Contraction of contratenor alto, from Latin contratenor altus.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Note: The usual range of the contralto voice is from G, below middle C, to the C above that; though exceptionally it embraces two octaves.
- adjective Of or pertaining to a contralto, or to the part in music called contralto; as, a contralto voice.
Etymology [It., fr. contra + alto. See Alto.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “contralto”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details