contralto

Home > ... > Literature and the Arts > Performing Arts > Music: Theory, Forms, and Instruments > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side World Encyclopedia The Concise Oxford Dictionary ... The Columbia Encyclopedia, ...

contralto

contralto , female voice of lowest pitch. Originally, the term denoted a second voice set against ( contra ) a high voice ( alto ); thus, a second high voice. Since most second parts were for a high male voice or a low woman's voice, the term came to mean a low woman's voice, pitched about a fifth below the soprano. See also alto ; countertenor ; voice .

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-contralt" title="Facts and information about contralto">contralto</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"contralto." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"contralto." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 16, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-contralt.html

"contralto." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-contralt.html

Learn more about citation styles

contralto

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

contralto XVIII (earlier contrealt). — It., f. CONTRA- and ALTO.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O27-contralto" title="Facts and information about contralto">contralto</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

T. F. HOAD. "contralto." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "contralto." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (November 16, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-contralto.html

T. F. HOAD. "contralto." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved November 16, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-contralto.html

Learn more about citation styles

contralto

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

contralto Lowest range (below soprano and mezzo-soprano) of the female singing voice. A male voice in this range is called a countertenor. See also alto

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-contralto" title="Facts and information about contralto">contralto</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"contralto." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"contralto." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 16, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-contralto.html

"contralto." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 16, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-contralto.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Veteran contralto to sing music by women.(Entertainment) Newspaper article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR); 3/8/2007
	A tribute to Marian Anderson; famed contralto is honored at gala concert in Connecticut. Magazine article from: Ebony; 11/1/1989
	Lennox Berkeley.(MUSIC)(Brief article) Magazine article from: National Review; 4/11/2005

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Voice of nature; Polish contralto Ewa Podles blows into town to perform with the Minnesota Opera.(ENTERTAINMENT) Newspaper article from: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN); 9/22/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...problems with my vocal cords, said Polish contralto Ewa Podles. Of course, sometimes I...a force of nature and the preeminent contralto in the world today, Podles has built...their relationship. Podles, a true contralto (see accompanying box), placed third...
	Ewa Podles joins ranks of the few real contraltos.(NEWS) Newspaper article from: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN); 3/23/2001; ; 700+ words ; ...disappear over time; contraltos, for instance. The...years of the Polish contralto Ewa Podles, who is...trying to define a contralto, has described her...We saw few real contraltos in the past century...McGegan, conductor; contralto Ewa Podles, guest...
	Polish Contralto Ewa Podles at Kleinhans Mary Seaton Room Newspaper article from: Polish-American Journal; 10/1/1998; 466 words ; ...Polish-American Journal 10-01-1998 Polish Contralto Ewa Podles at Kleinhans Mary Seaton Room At...splendid mezosopranos, but as everyone knows, a contralto remains a rare thing. Contralto Ewa Podles will take the stage Wednesday, October...
	Marion Dry is proud to be opera's rare contralto Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 1/24/1999; ; 700+ words ; Marion Dry is a contralto. Fifty years ago, or...England, which loved its contraltos, produced a lot of them...hasn't changed, and the contralto voice hasn't disappeared. But many natural contraltos have chosen to push their...
	Marian Anderson: The world's greatest contralto Newspaper article from: Philadelphia Tribune, The; 4/8/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...a story about visiting the legendary contralto singing sensation Marian Anderson's...range made her arguably the greatest contralto in the world. Anderson made her New...Constitution Hall on Easter Sunday. The famous contralto sang for an audience of 75,000. On...
	Contralto Barbara Wright Pryor sings music by African Americans Newspaper article from: Chicago Defender; 2/12/2000; ; 609 words ; Contralto Barbara Wright Pryor sings music by African Americans Mezzo-contralto Barbara Wright-Pryor, president of the Chicago Music Association, Branch 1 of the National Association of Negro Musicians and St. Mark's Grand Diva, performs...
	"Contralto Extraordinary" Newspaper article from: Polish-American Journal; 2/28/2005; ; 417 words ; ...who is presently considered to be the world's leading contralto, gave a spellbinding and absolutely brilliant performance...51, is a most genuine and very rare phenomenon--a true contralto. Her 3.5 octave range telescopes from baritonal depths...
	Contralto taking on fresh challenge in 'Il Trovatore' Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 11/2/2004; ; 700+ words ; Contralto taking on fresh challenge in 'Il Trovatore' Ewa Podles, a leading international concert and opera contralto, will make her Milwaukee debut Saturday, courtesy of the Florentine Opera. She will sing the weighty role of Azucena, the...
	POLISH CONTRALTO EWA PODLES IS DRAWN TO THE TRAGIC NATURE OF MAHLER'S MUSIC.(What's Happening) Newspaper article from: Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle, WA); 6/22/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...gives it three performances next week, with the great Polish contralto Ewa Podles, the Northwest Boychoir, and the women of the...prefer to sing tragic music." She considers the Canadian contralto Maureen Forrester (now retired) as performing Mahler the...
	Veteran contralto to sing music by women.(Entertainment) Newspaper article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR); 3/8/2007; 700+ words ; Byline: The Register-Guard A performance by contralto Linda Di Fiore is among six concerts and a dance program...cello and bass. Admission is free. Linda Di Fiore, contralto Friday, Beall Hall Guest artist Linda Di Fiore will give...