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Contralto vs. Tenor — What's the Difference?

Contralto vs. Tenor — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Contralto and Tenor

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Contralto

A contralto (Italian pronunciation: [konˈtralto]) is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female voice type.The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare; similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically between the F below middle C (F3 in scientific pitch notation) to the second F above middle C (F5), although, at the extremes, some voices can reach the D below middle C (D3) or the second B♭ above middle C (B♭5). The contralto voice type is generally divided into the coloratura, lyric, and dramatic contralto.

Tenor

A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is one of the highest of the male voice types.

Contralto

The lowest female singing voice
She sang in a high contralto

Tenor

A singing voice between baritone and alto or countertenor, the highest of the ordinary adult male range
He had a good tenor voice
The Serenade for tenor, horn, and strings

Contralto

The lowest female voice or voice part, intermediate in range between soprano and tenor.
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Tenor

An instrument, especially a saxophone, trombone, tuba, or viol, of the second or third lowest pitch in its family
A tenor sax

Contralto

A woman having a contralto voice.

Tenor

The general meaning, sense, or content of something
The general tenor of the debate

Contralto

(music) The lowest female voice or voice part, falling between tenor and mezzo-soprano. The terms contralto and alto refer to a similar musical pitch, but among singers, the term contralto is reserved for female singers; the equivalent male form is counter-tenor. Originally the contratenor altus was a high countermelody sung against the tenor or main melody.

Tenor

The actual wording of a document.

Contralto

The part sung by the highest male or lowest female voices; the alto or counter tenor.

Tenor

The time that must elapse before a bill of exchange or promissory note becomes due for payment.

Contralto

Of or pertaining to a contralto, or to the part in music called contralto; as, a contralto voice.

Tenor

The general course or character of something
"She would coast tonight, segue early into the Q&.
A, let the audience dictate the tenor of the event" (Anita Shreve).

Contralto

A woman singer having a contralto voice

Tenor

The word, phrase, or subject with which the vehicle of a metaphor is identified, as life in "Life's but a walking shadow" (Shakespeare).

Contralto

The lowest female singing voice

Tenor

The general meaning; the purport or drift
The tenor of her remarks.
The tenor of your message.

Contralto

Of or being the lowest female voice

Tenor

The highest natural adult male voice.

Tenor

One who sings this part.

Tenor

An instrument that sounds within this range.

Tenor

A vocal or instrumental part written within this range.

Tenor

(music) A musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto.

Tenor

A person, instrument, or group that performs in the tenor higher than bass and lower than alto range.

Tenor

A musical part or section that holds or performs the main melody, as opposed to the contratenor bassus and contratenor altus, who perform countermelodies.

Tenor

The lowest tuned in a ring of bells.

Tenor

Tone, as of a conversation.

Tenor

(obsolete) duration; continuance; a state of holding on in a continuous course; general tendency; career.

Tenor

(linguistics) The subject in a metaphor to which attributes are ascribed.

Tenor

(finance) Time to maturity of a bond.

Tenor

Stamp; character; nature.

Tenor

(legal) An exact copy of a writing, set forth in the words and figures of it. It differs from purport, which is only the substance or general import of the instrument.

Tenor

That course of thought which holds on through a discourse; the general drift or course of thought; purport; intent; meaning; understanding.

Tenor

A tenor saxophone.

Tenor

Of or pertaining to the tenor part or range.
He has a tenor voice.

Tenor

A state of holding on in a continuous course; manner of continuity; constant mode; general tendency; course; career.
Along the cool sequestered vale of lifeThey kept the noiseless tenor of their away.

Tenor

That course of thought which holds on through a discourse; the general drift or course of thought; purport; intent; meaning; understanding.
When it [the bond] is paid according to the tenor.
Does not the whole tenor of the divine law positively require humility and meekness to all men?

Tenor

Stamp; character; nature.
This success would look like chance, if it were perpetual, and always of the same tenor.

Tenor

An exact copy of a writing, set forth in the words and figures of it. It differs from purport, which is only the substance or general import of the instrument.

Tenor

The higher of the two kinds of voices usually belonging to adult males; hence, the part in the harmony adapted to this voice; the second of the four parts in the scale of sounds, reckoning from the base, and originally the air, to which the other parts were auxillary.

Tenor

The adult male singing voice above baritone

Tenor

The pitch range of the highest male voice

Tenor

An adult male with a tenor voice

Tenor

Pervading note of an utterance;
I could follow the general tenor of his argument

Tenor

(of a musical instrument) intermediate between alto and baritone or bass;
A tenor sax

Tenor

Of or close in range to the highest natural adult male voice;
Tenor voice

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