VOCAL RANGES

Subject: VOCAL RANGES
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 12:17 PM

There were several questions on last night's "University Challenge" (a slightly up-market quiz program on BBC2") in which the team were played tapes of 2 people singing and had to guess the "vocal ranges".

At first I thought "How strange, how would they know if it was one and a half or two octaves, etc?" but when the first answer came it was "Tenor and Soprano". The remaining answers were things like Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, etc.

So can anyone tell me how these are defined, and also what is the average range of an untrained human voice (Mine is about one and a half octaves at best though some of the notes at the low and high end are somewhat strained, well probably they are all a bit of a strain to hear/ear!)?

I presume that the ranges are defined with respect to a fixed pitch nore (perhaps Middle C on a Piano?).

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 01:14 PM

The ranges are "more or less" defined. It is the natural range of a singer. Defining as bass, tenor, etc. is usual. Any particular singer may vary in his/her natural range.

A tenor ranges from the octave below middle C to the A above it; or more broadly, the adult male voice between the bass and the alto or counter-tenor.
Bass- voice ranging from Eb below the bass stave to the F above it.

The female voice may be characterized similarly. I remember Yma Sumac who could range all over the place.

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: Marje
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 01:19 PM

I think the female ranges are approximately an octave above the male ones.
Having said that, the custom in folk circles is to use more of the lower end of one's range, rather than stretching the voice as high as one can, which many classical singers do.It sounds more natural and seems to suit the material better.

Marje

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: Janie
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 01:22 PM

I don't know how to do it, but maybe some one could provide links to some of the other very interesting threads on this topic?

Janie

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 01:27 PM

Soprano- the range from "About" middle C to two octaves above it.

I am checking the OED as I look these up and it takes a lot of flipping and changing from volume to volume; a singer probably has references that give the definitions all together.

Remember that any particular singer may differ; that is why the definitions have modifiers like 'about, or 'generally.' Most of us go by 'ear,' when we say a singer is a bass, or a tenor, or mezzo-soprano, etc.

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: John Routledge
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 01:37 PM

My voice is Baritone but I spent many years trying to sing Bass. Seemed more macho at the time? :0)

Much easier now I have "discovered" the obvious.

Drift - Yma Sumac mentioned by Q was - according to my father - Amy Camus from un-exotic Middlesbrough in NE England.

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 01:48 PM

Janie, I looked briefly at the threads. These two may be of some interest.
67949: Discussion
58021: Pitch

There are also threads about 'stretching' one's vocal range, but this is best done with professional guidance.

Most people are assigned a 'range' by a school or church singing group leader and accept that. With experience, the singer may develop a broader range.
Professional soloists, with voice training, may considerably extend their range. It must sound 'natural' or the audience will cringe and whisper.

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 02:26 PM

Digression and trivia-
Yma Sumac- born Zoila Augusta Emperatriz Chavarri del Castillo, Sept. 12, 1924, but mother's name Summack, and the singer first performed as Imma Sumack. Chavarri del Castillo her father's surname. Her family was in ranching, city home in Lima, ranch at Ichocan. First recorded with Vivanco's Peruvian troupe in Argentina but had previously sung in Lima. The Incan princess claim is publicist's fancy. Married Moises Vivianco and mostly lived in NY. Four to five octave range. Retired in L.A.

The Amy Camus of Brooklyn-Montreal-England story is a hoax (her stage name spelled backwards).

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: GUEST,Harmoni
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 02:49 PM

I'm a female who sings tenor in two choirs; I find the alto parts too high for me most of the time.

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: Janie
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 04:36 PM

Harmoni--that would be me also. 2nd tenor range. BUT I didn't know that until about 4 years ago. I thought I was just a lousy alto based on my high school choral experience from 30+ years ago! I have about an Octave+3/4 range without straining too much, but had always neglected the lower 3rd of my range. Didn't think it was "legit" for a woman to sing that low. About a year ago it was suggested to me to sing in a women's chorale where I would be warmly welcomed to sing the bass line.

Janie

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: John Routledge
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 05:33 PM

Many Thanks Q

As a child I was obviously too trusting of what my parents told me :0). He must have had a warped sense of humour.!!

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: GUEST,Harmoni
Date: 19 Oct 04 - 05:57 PM

Janie,

When I was a kid I was a soprano but my voice has been going steadily lower as the years go by!

I've been singing tenor for about 12 years now; when I started women didn't sing tenor. But now there's quite a few of us. I still get women who come up to me, saying that alto is too high but they're nervous about singing tenor with the "guys". I always tell them that they should sing wherever their voice feels comfortable. If it happens to be tenor, great. Lord knows choirs can always use tenors, right? LOL

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: GUEST,butterfly (ORIGINATOR OF THIS POST)
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 06:35 AM

I got the following information from the website http://www.vocalist.org.uk/vocal_range_key.html

I am not clear what the numbers beside the notes (ie C4, G3) mean, so any enlightenment would be appreciated.

Soprano - High female voice, G3 (below middle C4) to F6 above high C6.
Coloratura - A singer, usually soprano, who sings ornamental passages in music - C4 to F6 or G6 above high C6

Lyric Soprano - Warmer middle sound - Bb3 below middle C4 to high C6 or D6

Spinto Soprano - Usually a thicker sound with more edge and volume but with the same range as a the Lyric Soprano

Dramatic Soprano - The loudest and lowest with cutting power - low Bb3 or A3, to a pushed high C6

Mezzo-Soprano - Middle female voice with dark quality, Low A3 or G3 (below middle C4) to about high A6 or Bb6 although some go to Eb6 above high C6.

Alto or Contralto - Low Female Voice, low C3 (below middle C4) to high C6 or up to high A6.

Tenor - High Male Voice, C (below middle C) to E above high C.
Countertenor - Highest male voice, also called alto, often falsetto
Heldentenor - Poweful dramatic tenor voice

Baritone - Middle Male Voice, low G to B natural just below the Tenor high C.

Bass - Baritone - More like a bass than a baritone, lacks the low bass notes

Bass - Low Male Voice, low E to G above middle C.

Basso Cantante - High bass voice suitable for solo singing

Basso Profundo - Deep bass voice encompassing about two octaves above C below the bass staff

These are just a few classifications which are split into sub classifications covering all types of vocal range and tone. Please note that the tone, resonance and ornamentation of the voice should be taken into consideration before assuming it falls into one or other 'fach'..... The amount of notes or range/register alone does NOT equal 'fach type'.

Subject: RE: VOCAL RANGES
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 10:27 PM

I started out as a soprano when I was younger. I'm more of a baritone/tenor now. Although sometimes I can hit those high notes like Bill Monroe. "Maaaaaan of constnt sooorrooow...."