The mezzo-soprano is characterized by heavier and darker vocal tones than the soprano. In many cases, the mezzo-soprano can extend down to F3 or up to C6. This vocal category spans from A3-which is the A key below the middle C or C4-to A5.
The mezzo-soprano is a singing voice that lies below the soprano but higher than contralto. Although not part of classical or theatrical music, sopranino may perform as a regular soprano. The sopranino is a rare singing voice that occupies a higher vocal range than the soprano that lies between E4 to E6 but can be extended to A7.
Lyric Soprano has a similar vocal range to a soubrette but with full timbre and higher tessitura to differentiate it from soubrette. The spinto is characterized by the use of the singer’s “ping” or “squillo” to vocally slice through the orchestra similar to that of a dramatic soprano. Spinto Soprano is a soprano subcategory with a voice range that spans from C4 to D6 that is depicted by voice clarity and easy handling of high notes. It has a voice range that extends from A3 to C6. 3) Dramatic Sopranoĭramatic Soprano is characterized by a rich and powerful voice that is full of emotions that can ably cut through or sing over a full orchestra. Soubrette is a soprano voice subcategory that lies between C4 to D6 that is characterized by lightness with sweet timbre and midrange tessitura distinctive of that frivolous, girlish character that the soubrette portrays. These five subcategories are the following: 1) Coloratura SopranoĬoloratura Soprano is a type of soprano voice usually found in operas that is identified with agile runs and leaps as well as trills. This is divided into five subcategories according to vocal range, timbre, weight, and voice agility. C4 is the middle C key found at the center of a piano keyboard. It has the highest vocal range of two octaves that generally spans between the keys C4 and C6. The soprano is the highest singing voice and has the highest tessitura except for a specific type of soprano called the sopranino. For female voice, there are three generally accepted categories, namely: soprano, mezzo-soprano, and the contralto. Musical pedagogues use these voice qualities as well as the vocal registry to determine and classify a person’s voice to a specific category. Some pedagogues include the “ head voice,” “ middle voice,” and the “ chest voice” to the registers however, the use of such “voice” is confusing and thus is not universally accepted. Whistle register is the highest-pitched of the vocal register.Falsetto is about one octave higher than that of the modal voice.Modal voice is the normal voice used in speech or singing.
It is best described as the particular singer’s comfort zone. The tessitura, on the other hand, pertains to the general pleasantness of a voice within a vocal range.
The vocal timbre is the character or quality of a musical sound or voice that gives the distinction among sounds or voices.Spinto-being middleweight-carries less vocal power but retains the vocal agility. In between these two vocal weights is the “spinto.” More vocal weights and power means less agility. Lighter voices are more agile, considerably brighter, and are often associated with the “lyrics.” On the other hand, heavier voices correspond to the “dramatic” and are characterized by their richness, darkness, and power. The voice weight pertains to the lightness or heaviness of a perceived voice.Female voices mostly dominate the higher notes, and each vocal range generally consists of two octaves on the piano keyboard. The vocal range is the span of notes that a person’s voice can phonate from the lowest note to the highest.Vocal Characteristic of Contralto The Facts About Female Voice