Voice Classification and Vocal Ensembles

Human Voices Two main groups of human voices: Female voices (including children) Male Voices Voices are classified by their timbre and range: Timbre is the quality or “color” of the voice Range is all of the notes that a person can sing

Female and Child Voices Soprano is the highest voice Mezzo soprano is the middle voice Contralto is the lowest voice Treble is the word for a child’s voice

Greek-american soprano Maria Callas: 1923 – 1977 Greek-american soprano Anna Netrebko: 1971 Russian soprano

Italian mezzo-soprano Latvian mezzo-soprano CECILIA BARTOLI: 1966 Italian mezzo-soprano ELINA GARANčA: 1976 Latvian mezzo-soprano

Male Voices Tenor is the highest voice Baritone is the middle voice Bass is the lowest voice

COUNTERTENOR Is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of the female contralto or mezzo-soprano voice types.

TENOR LUCIANO PAVAROTTI: 1935-2007 Italian tenor PLÁCIDO DOMINGO: 1941 Spanish tenor

BARITONE BASS Dmitri Hvorostovsky: 1962 Russian baritone Kurt Moll: 1938-2017 German bass

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Vocal Ensembles Ensembles by number: Vocal ensembles can be classified by types of voices, number of voices, and style of music. Ensembles by number: Solo, duet, trio, quartet, octet, etc. Chamber choir: small group (10-20) Choir or chorus: large group (>20)

Vocal Ensembles Vocal ensembles can be classified by types of voices, number of voices, and style of music. Ensembles by types of voices: Children’s choir Male choir Female choir Mixed choir

Vocal Ensembles Vocal ensembles can be classified by types of voices, number of voices, and style of music. Ensembles by style: Concert choir (traditional) Jazz choir Show choir (sing and dance) Church choir