Alto
(AL-toe)
[It. from Lat. altus - high]
A female
voice
of low
range
, (usually about
G
below the
treble clef
to
C
in the
treble clef
) also called
contralto
.
Originally the
alto
was a high male
voice
, which, through the use of
falsetto
, reached the range of a female
alto
(this type of male
voice
is also called a
countertenor
).
The second highest part of a normal four part
chorus
.
In French, the second highest
instrument
of the
violin
family: the
viola
.
Also
[Eng.]
viola
;
[Ger.]
Bratsche
;
[It.]
viola
;
[Sp.]
viola
.
In reference to
instrument
families such as the
clarinet
,
flute
and
recorder
, the second or third highest member of the family.
Play Alto range example (MIDI file format)
More about the voice
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