contralto
Lowest female voice
Contralto is the lowest female singing voice, distinguished from soprano and mezzo-soprano by its deeper, richer range.
The term also refers to a singer with this voice: The contralto sang the solo passage.
In choral music, contralto parts often overlap with alto, though contralto typically implies a soloist's voice rather than a choral section.
- chanteuseFemale nightclub singer
- divaCelebrated female vocalist
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- vocalistOne who sings professionally
songstress · cantatrice · prima donna · choirgirl · chorister
Essential meaning or import
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- baritoneMid-range male voice
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- trebleHigh frequency range
tessitura · chest voice · head voice · passaggio · register · range · timbre · deep
Soft and smooth-textured
- warmModerately heated, or friendly
- richHaving much of something
- sonorousDeep and full-toned
- resonantDeeply vibrating with sound
full-bodied · sultry · dusky · smoky · dark · plummy · burnished · lustrous
Organized group of singers
- chorusSingers performing together
- choraleHymn tune or choir
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
polyphony · blend · counterpoint · accompaniment · arrangement · composition · part-singing · a cappella
Marian Anderson
vocalist · songstress · cantatrice · prima donna · choirgirl · chorister
tenor
Essential meaning or import
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- baritoneMid-range male voice
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
treble · tessitura · chest voice · head voice · passaggio · register · range · timbre · deep · low
velvety
Soft and smooth-textured
resonant · full-bodied · sultry · dusky · smoky · dark · plummy · burnished · lustrous · honeyed
choir
Organized group of singers
harmony · polyphony · blend · counterpoint · accompaniment · arrangement · composition · part-singing · a cappella · cantata
aria
Operatic solo piece
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
- librettoOpera's written words
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
cadenza · ensemble · score · overture · oratorio · lieder · art song · chanson · ballad
- singinglead vocals, vocalist, backing vocals, tenor, backup vocals
- musicianspianist, guitarist, electric guitarist, bassist, vocalist
- vocal musicsong, vocals, tenor, baritone, mezzo
- vocalistssinger, vocalist, soloist, songstress, songster
- operaopera, aria, arias, tenor, baritone
- choir singerschorister, choirboy, choirgirl, tenor, treble
contraltosoprano
Highest female voice range
treble · countertenor · tenor · high-pitched · boy soprano