Contralto

Noun

 * 1)  the lowest female voice or voice part, higher than tenor and lower than 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.

Synonyms

 * alto

Coordinate terms

 * soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, contralto ; countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass

Thesaurus
accompaniment, alto, aria singer, baritenor, baritone, bass, basso, basso buffo, basso cantante, basso continuo, basso ostinato, basso profundo, bassus, blues singer, canary, cantatrice, canto, cantor, cantus, cantus figuratus, cantus planus, caroler, chanter, chantress, coloratura soprano, comic bass, continuo, countertenor, crooner, deep, deep bass, deep-echoing, deep-pitched, deep-toned, deepmouthed, descant, diva, dramatic soprano, drone, figured bass, grave, ground bass, heavy, heroic tenor, hollow, hymner, improvisator, lead singer, lieder singer, line, low, low-pitched, melodist, mezzo-soprano, opera singer, part, plain chant, plain song, prick song, prima donna, psalm singer, rock-and-roll singer, sepulchral, singer, singstress, songbird, songster, songstress, soprano, tenor, thorough bass, torch singer, treble, undersong, vocalist, vocalizer, voice, voice part, warbler, yodeler

Related terms

 * contratenor altus
 * alto
 * tenor