Contralto Edit Meaning

1.

The lowest womyn's singing voice; at the bottom of their range, they sound almost like men, often leading to people mistaking them for men on the radio, telephone, or wherever.

The alto range, which is below soprano, is really an easy combination of the mezzo-sopranorange and the contralto range; the mezzo-soprano is the medium female voice and therefore the higher of the two.

The contralto voice is a pretty rare voice. And there is little work that was written specifically for the contralto. Countertenors, mezzo-sopranos, and often tenors, baritones, and basses take the roles that were written for them.

Marian Anderson and Kathleen Ferrier were legendary operatic contraltos in their day.

Toni Braxtonis a famous popular music contralto. As are Brandy, Alicia Keyes, Cher, and Blu Cantrell, among others.

2.

The lowest female singing voice. At their lowest, contraltos sometimes sound like Barry White. There are traditionally very few roles for contraltos in operas, though modern musical theatre has begun to include them. A common saying is that contraltos are only allowed to play "witches, bitches and britches," with "britches" referring to a trouser role.

Some famous contraltos are Cher, Fiona Apple, Patti LuPone and Marilyn Horne.

Some famous contralto roles in musical theatre are Katisha ( The Mikado), Dalila (Samson et Dalila) and Charity (Sweet Charity).

See voice, music, alto, soprano, opera

3.

The lowest womon's singing voice; on her lowest notes, she sounds almost like a man, often leading to people mistaking them for men on the radio, telephone, or wherever.

The alto range, which is below soprano, is really a mish-mash of the mezzo-sopranorange and the contralto range; the mezzo-soprano is the higher of the two.

The contralto voice is pretty rare since there is little work that was written specifically for them. Countertenors, mezzo-sopranos, and often tenors, baritones, and basses take the roles that were written for them.

See Sam