Alto
In music an alto is a singer with a range somewhere between a tenor and a soprano. A typical alto will have a range from around the F below middle C to the D a ninth above middle C. In four part chorale style harmony, the alto is the second highest voice. Altos originally sang from music written in the alto clef, but now use the treble clef.Although both men and women may have voices in the alto range, the word is usually used to mean a female singer. In English church usage, the term alto is sometimes exclusively used to mean a boy with this range, while contralto is used for a female singer. However, this isn't done consistently, and for most practical purposes, alto and contralto can be thought of as synonyms (the phrase "boy alto" can be used if there is a chance of misunderstanding).
The word alto is often applied to instruments to indicate their range in relation to other instruments of the same group. In common usage, particularly among jazz musicians, the word has become synonymous with the alto saxophone.
Some well known contraltos include:
Do not look sad.html">sad, Bianca. It is nothing.html">nothing.
Bind it about mine arm. Nay, not so tight.
I pray you be not sad. No; take it off.
[Simone disarms Guido]
My sword is better tempered, finer steel,
Kill him! kill him!
SIMONE. Put out the torch.html">torch, Bianca.
[Bianca puts out torch.]
Now, my good Lord,
Or all three it may be. [They fight.]
There and there.
[Simone overpowers Guido and throws him down over table.]
GUIDO. Fool! take your strangling fingers from my throat.
Has but one heir, and that false enemy France
To fall upon our city.
SIMONE. Hush! your father
As for the state.html">State, I think our state of Florence
Your life.html">life would soil its lilies.
GUIDO. Take off your hands
That nothing will avail you, and your life
Ends with that shame and ends most shamefully.
GUIDO. Oh! let me have a priest.html">priest before I die!
SIMONE. What wouldst thou have a priest for? tell.html">Tell thy sins.html">sins
And then no more for ever. Tell thy sins
Most pitiful being just. As for myself. . .
GUIDO. Oh! help me, sweet Bianca! help me, Bianca,
Die like a dog with lolling tongue! Die! Die!
And wash it all unheeded to the sea.
GUIDO. Lord Christ receive my wretched soul to-night!
SIMONE. Amen to that. Now for the other.
[He dies. Simone rises and looks at Bianca. She comes towards him
Did you not tell me you were so strong?
SIMONE. Why
LA SAINTE COURTISANE
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a great crucifix.
On the left [sand dunes].
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.
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