range
(raynj)


[Eng.]

The scope of notes that an instrument or a voice can produce. Also, the scope of a composition, from the lowest note to the highest. A narrow range has fewer notes between the highest and lowest pitch while a wide range has many notes between the highest and lowest pitch.

See Tessitura.

SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:

range, medium:
Copland: Appalachian Spring, Moderato
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 2
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite, Op. 46, No. 1, "Ase's Death"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 67
Traditional: Greensleeves (arr. for harpsichord)
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 30
Ravel: Boléro (clarinet solo)
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 45

range, narrow:
Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F major, III

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 1
Khatchaturian: Gayne Suite No. 1, "Sabre Dance"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 29
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 (Italian), IV
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 40
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23, III
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 24

range, wide:
Strauss: Don Juan, Op. 20

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 3
Bernstein: On the Waterfront, "Love Theme"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 3, Track 74
Debussy: Syrinx for Flute Solo
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 52
Holst: The Planets, Op. 32, Jupiter, "The Bringer of Jollity"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 50
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas brasileiras, No. 5, 1
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 3, Track 70
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