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This article is about the voice-type. For other uses, see Soprano (disambiguation).
This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. A voice type is a particular kind of human Singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics
Voice Type (ranges)
Female voices
Soprano
Mezzo-soprano
Contralto

Male voices

Countertenor
Tenor
Baritone
Bass

Related concepts

Coloratura
Chest voice
Head voice
Sprechgesang
Vocal registration
Vocal resonation

edit this - view history

A soprano is a singer with a voice range (using scientific pitch notation, where middle C = C4) from approximately (C4) to "high A" (A5) in choral music, or to "soprano C" (C6, two octaves above middle C) or higher in operatic music. A voice type is a particular kind of human Singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics Human voices may be classified according to their vocal range &mdash the highest and lowest pitches that they can produce This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. The tenor is the highest male voice within the Modal register, just above the Baritone voice This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. Coloratura has several meanings The word derives from the Italian colorare (to Colour; to heighten to enliven or colorazione (colouring coloration Chest voice is a term used within vocal music The use of this term varies widely within vocal pedagogical circles and there is currently no one consistent opinion among vocal music professionals Head voice is a term used within vocal music The use of this term varies widely within vocal pedagogical circles and there is currently no one consistent opinion among vocal music professionals Sprechgesang and Sprechstimme ( German for spoken-song and spoken-voice) are musical terms used to refer to an expressionist vocal A vocal register in the human voice is a particular series of tones produced in the same vibratory pattern of the Vocal folds and possessing the same quality Vocal resonation is the process by which the basic product of Phonation is enhanced in timbre and/or intensity by the air-filled cavities through which it passes on its way to Scientific pitch notation is one of several methods that name the Notes of the standard Western Chromatic scale by combining a letter-name accidentals C or Do is the first Note of the fixed-Do Solfege. In Western Music, the expression " Middle C " refers to the note For the musical composition see Chorale. A choir, chorale, or chorus is a Musical ensemble of Singers In Music, an octave ( is the the use of which is "common in most musical systems Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto In four part chorale style harmony the soprano takes the highest part which usually encompasses the melody. A chorale was originally a Hymn of the Lutheran church sung by the entire congregation In Music, a melody (from Greek μελῳδία - melōidía, "singing chanting" also tune, voice, or [1] For other styles of singing see Voice classification in non-classical music. There is currently no authoritative voice classification system within non-classical music

Typically, the term "soprano" refers to female singers but at times the term male soprano has been used by men who sing in the soprano vocal range using falsetto vocal production instead of the modal voice. A sopranist (also sopranista or male soprano) is a male classical singer who is able to sing in the vocal Tessitura of a Soprano usually through The term falsetto (Italian diminutive of falso, false refers to the Vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the Modal voice register and See also Voice (phonetics, Vocal register Modal voice is the Vocal register used most frequently in speech and singing in most languages This practice is most commonly found in the context of choral music in England. However, these men are more commonly referred to as countertenors or sopranists. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. A sopranist (also sopranista or male soprano) is a male classical singer who is able to sing in the vocal Tessitura of a Soprano usually through It should be noted that the practice of referring to countertenors as "male sopranos" is somewhat controversial within vocal pedagogical circles as these men do not produce sound in the same physiological way that female sopranos do. [2] The singer Michael Maniaci is the only known man who can refer to himself as a true male soprano because he is able to sing in the soprano vocal range using the modal voice like a woman would. Michael Maniaci (born 1976 is an American Male soprano noted for his unusual ability to sing into the upper Soprano register without using Falsetto. See also Voice (phonetics, Vocal register Modal voice is the Vocal register used most frequently in speech and singing in most languages He is able to do this because his larynx never fully developed like a man's voice does during puberty. The larynx (plural larynges) colloquially known as the voicebox, is an organ in the Neck of Mammals involved in protection of the [3]

In choral music the term soprano refers to a vocal part or line and not a voice type. A voice type is a particular kind of human Singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics Male singers whose voices have not yet changed and are singing the soprano line are technically known as "trebles". A boy soprano is a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the Soprano range The term "boy soprano" is often used as well, but this is just a colloquialism and not the correct term. A boy soprano is a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the Soprano range [2]

Historically women were not allowed to sing in the Church so the soprano roles were given to young boys and later to castrati - men whose larynxes had been fixed in a pre-adolescent state through the process of castration. A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, or Contralto voice produced either by Castration Castration (also referred to as Gelding, Neutering, Fixing, orchiectomy, and orchidectomy is any action surgical, chemical [4]

The term soprano may also be used to refer to a member of an instrumental family with the highest range such as the soprano saxophone. The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind [5]

Contents

Types of soprano and soprano roles in opera

In opera, the tessitura, vocal weight, and timbre of soprano voices, and the roles they sing, are commonly categorized into voice types, often called fächer (sg. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto In Music, the term tessitura ( Italian for texture) generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable Timbre for a given Vocal weight refers to the perceived "lightness" or "heaviness" of a singing voice In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different A voice type is a particular kind of human Singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics fach, from German Fach or Stimmfach, "vocal category"). The German Fach (pl Fächer, literally "compartment" (ˈfax) system is a method of classifying Singers primarily Opera singers The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. [6]

A singer's tessitura is where the voice has the best timbre, easy volume, and most comfort. In Music, the term tessitura ( Italian for texture) generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable Timbre for a given In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different In Music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a Sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece either stylistic For instance a soprano and a mezzo-soprano may have a similar range, but their tessituras will lie in different parts of that range. [7]

The low extreme for sopranos is roughly B3 or A3 (just below middle C). Often low notes in higher voices project less, lack timbre, and tend to "count less" in roles (although some Verdi, Strauss and Wagner roles call for stronger singing below the staff). In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different Rarely is a soprano simply unable to sing a low note in a song within a soprano role. [7]

The high extreme: at a minimum, non-coloratura sopranos have to reach "soprano C" (C6, two octaves above middle C), and many roles in the standard repertoire call for D6 or D-flat6. A couple of roles have optional E-flat6’s, as well. In the coloratura repertoire several roles call for E-flat6 on up to F6. Coloratura has several meanings The word derives from the Italian colorare (to Colour; to heighten to enliven or colorazione (colouring coloration In rare cases, some coloratura roles go as high as G6 or A6 such as the role of Europa in Antonio Salieri's Europa riconosciuta. Antonio Salieri ( 18 August 1750 &ndash 7 May 1825) was an Italian Composer and conductor. Europa riconosciuta is an Opera in two acts by Antonio Salieri, designated as a dramma per musica, set to an Italian Libretto While not necessarily within the tessitura, a good soprano will be able to sing her top notes full-throated, with timbre and dynamic control. In Music, the term tessitura ( Italian for texture) generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable Timbre for a given In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different In Music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a Sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece either stylistic [6]

The following are the operatic soprano classifications (see individual articles for roles and singers):

Coloratura soprano

Main article: Coloratura soprano

Soubrette

Main article: Soubrette

In classical music and opera, the term soubrette refers to both a voice type and a particular type of opera role. WikipediaWikiProject Opera#Infoboxes --> Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (born 7 November 1926 Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 &ndash 8 April 1848 was an Italian composer from Bergamo, Lombardy. Lucrezia Borgia is a Melodramma, or Opera, in a prologue and two acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Soubrette is a term referring to a type of female role&mdashspecifically a Stock character &mdashin Opera and Theatre. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto A soubrette voice is light with a bright, sweet timbre, a tessitura in the mid-range, and with no extensive coloratura. In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different In Music, the term tessitura ( Italian for texture) generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable Timbre for a given Coloratura has several meanings The word derives from the Italian colorare (to Colour; to heighten to enliven or colorazione (colouring coloration The soubrette voice is not a weak voice for it must carry over an orchestra without a microphone like all voices in opera. The voice however has a lighter vocal weight than other soprano voices with a brighter timbre. Vocal weight refers to the perceived "lightness" or "heaviness" of a singing voice Many young singers start out as soubrettes but as they grow older and the voice matures more physically they may be reclassified as another voice type, usually either a light lyric soprano, a lyric coloratura soprano, or a coloratura mezzo-soprano. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. Rarely does a singer remain a soubrette throughout their entire career. [1] A soubrette's range extends approximately from middle C (C4) to "high D" (D6). The tessitura of the soubrette tends to lie a bit lower than the lyric soprano and spinto soprano. [7] To hear an example of a Soubrette (Dawn Upshaw as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro) click on this link: Watch Here

Lyric soprano

Main article: Lyric soprano

A warm voice with a bright, full timbre which can be heard over an orchestra. Soubrette is a term referring to a type of female role&mdashspecifically a Stock character &mdashin Opera and Theatre. Dawn Upshaw (born July 17, 1960 in Nashville, Tennessee) is a world-renowned American Soprano Le nozze di Figaro ossia la folle giornata (Trans The Marriage of Figaro or the Day of Madness) K A lyric soprano is a type of operatic Soprano that has a warm quality with a bright full Timbre which can be heard over an orchestra In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different It generally has a higher tessitura than a soubrette and usually plays ingenues and other sympathetic characters in opera. In Music, the term tessitura ( Italian for texture) generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable Timbre for a given Soubrette is a term referring to a type of female role&mdashspecifically a Stock character &mdashin Opera and Theatre. The Ingénue (ˈænʒənuː is a Stock character in Literature, Film, and a Role type in the Theatre; generally a girl or a young Lyric sopranos have a range from approximately middle C (C4) to "high D" (D6). [6] There is a tendency to divide lyric sopranos into two groups[7]:

To hear an example of a Light lyric soprano (Lucia Popp as Pamina in The Magic Flute) click on this link: Watch Here

To hear an example of a Full lyric soprano (Kiri Te Kanawa as Marguerite in Faust) click on this link: Watch Here

Spinto soprano

Main article: Spinto soprano

Also lirico-spinto, Italian for "pushed lyric". Dame Kiri Janette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC (ˈkiri ˈtɛ ˈkɑːnəwə born Faust is an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play A spinto soprano (also Lirico-spinto or "pushed lyric" is an operatic Soprano that has the brightness and height of a Lyric soprano Spinto (from Italian "pushed" is a vocal term used to characterize a Soprano or Tenor voice of a weight between lyric and dramatic This voice has the brightness and height of a lyric soprano, but can be "pushed" to dramatic climaxes without strain, and may have a somewhat darker timbre. In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different Spinto sopranos have a range from approximately middle C (C4) to "high D" (D6). [6] To hear an example of a Spinto soprano (Leontyne Price in the title role of Tosca) click on this link: Watch Here

Dramatic soprano

Main article: Dramatic soprano

A dramatic soprano has a powerful, rich, emotive voice that can sing over a full orchestra. Mary Violet Leontyne Price (born February 10, 1927) is an American Opera singer ( Soprano) Tosca is an Opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on A dramatic soprano is an operatic Soprano with a powerful rich emotive voice that can sing over a full orchestra Usually (but not always) this voice has a lower tessitura than other sopranos, and a darker timbre. In Music, the term tessitura ( Italian for texture) generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable Timbre for a given In Music, timbre (ˈtæm-bər' like timber, or, from Fr timbre tɛ̃bʁ is the quality of a Musical note or sound that distinguishes different Dramatic sopranos have a range from approximately middle C (C4) to "high D" (D6). [6]

Some dramatic sopranos, known as Wagnerian sopranos, have a very big voice that can assert itself over an exceptionally large orchestra (over eighty pieces). A dramatic soprano is an operatic Soprano with a powerful rich emotive voice that can sing over a full orchestra These voices are substantial and very powerful and ideally even throughout the registers. [7]

Intermediate voice types

Two types of soprano especially dear to the French are the Dugazon and the Falcon, which are intermediate voice types between the soprano and the mezzo soprano: a Dugazon is a darker-colored soubrette, a Falcon a darker-colored soprano drammatico. Jessye Norman (born September 15, 1945) is a four time Grammy award winning African American opera singer Ariadne auf Naxos ( Ariadne on Naxos) is an Opera by Richard Strauss with a German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Birgit Nilsson ( May 17, 1918 &ndash December 25, 2005) was a Swedish Dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic Tristan und Isolde ( Tristan and Isolde, or Tristan and Isolda) is an Opera, or Music drama, in three acts by Richard Wagner Louise-Rosalie Lefebvre, also known as Madame Dugazon ( June 18 1755 - September 22 1821) was a French Operatic Marie Cornélie Falcon (28 January 1812 - 25 February 1897) was a French Operatic singer This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. [6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Stark, James (2003). Bel canto ( Bel-Canto) ( Italian, "beautiful singing" an Italian musical term refers to the art and science of vocal technique which originated in A boy soprano is a young male singer with an unchanged voice in the Soprano range A coloratura soprano is a type of operatic Soprano who specializes in music that is distinguished by agile runs and leaps A dramatic soprano is an operatic Soprano with a powerful rich emotive voice that can sing over a full orchestra The German Fach (pl Fächer, literally "compartment" (ˈfax) system is a method of classifying Singers primarily Opera singers A lyric soprano is a type of operatic Soprano that has a warm quality with a bright full Timbre which can be heard over an orchestra Soubrette is a term referring to a type of female role&mdashspecifically a Stock character &mdashin Opera and Theatre. There is currently no authoritative voice classification system within non-classical music A voice type is a particular kind of human Singing voice perceived as having certain identifying qualities or characteristics Bel Canto: A History of Vocal Pedagogy. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-08-0208-614-3.  
  2. ^ a b c McKinney, James (1994). The Diagnosis and Correction of Vocal Faults. Genovex Music Group. ISBN 978-1565939400.  
  3. ^ Times Article October 2007
  4. ^ Smith, Brenda (2005). Choral Pedagogy. Plural Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-15-9756-043-6.  
  5. ^ Apel, Willi (1968). Harvard Dictionary of Music: Second Edition. Belknap Press. ISBN 978-0674375017.  
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Coffin, Berton (1960). Coloratura, Lyric and Dramatic Soprano, Vol. 1. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. . ISBN 978-08-1080-188-2.  
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Boldrey, Richard (1994). Guide to Operatic Roles and Arias. Caldwell Publishing Company. ISBN 978-18-7776-164-5.  

Further reading

External links

Dictionary

soprano

-noun

  1. Musical part or section higher in pitch than alto and other sections.
  2. Person or instrument that performs the soprano part.
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