MAPEH – VOCAL RANGE AND CLASSIFICATION IN MUSIC
MALE VOICE
🔹 Tenor → Highest male voice. Bright, powerful, and agile. Range:
C3–C5. Example: Freddie Mercury, Bruno Mars. Sounds like a 🎺
trumpet (sharp & high).
🔹 Baritone → Middle male voice. Warm, deep, and smooth. Range:
A2–A4. Example: Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra. Sounds like a 🎷
saxophone (rich & full).
Bass – Lowest male voice.
Deep, resonant, and grounding.
Range: Approximately E2–E4.
Example: James Earl Jones, Paul Robeson.
It carries a powerful, rumbling quality that forms the foundation
of a song.
FEMALE VOICE
WHAT IS SOPRANO?
-is the highest female voice, ranging from C4 to C6, known for its
bright and agile quality, often taking lead roles in opera and
musical theater.
Types of sopranos:
Coloratura soprano, Lyric soprano, Soubrette or light soprano,
Spinto soprano, Dramatic soprano.
Few famous sopranos: Maria Callas, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey,
Ariana Grande.
COLORATURA SOPRANO
A soprano with a very agile, high, and light voice capable of
executing fast runs, leaps, and ornamentation. They often
sing roles that require extreme vocal flexibility and high
notes.
Examples: The Queen of the Night in “The Magic Flute”.
Mezzo suprano – is a type of classical female singing voice that
lies between the highest and lowest vocal ranges. Mezzos often
perform supporting or dramatic roles in opera.
Famous examples include Cecilia Bartoli and Joyce DiDonato
Contralto - a contralto is the lowest female singing voice with a
deep rich, and powerful tone. Contraltos are described to be dark
and earthy with less focus on high notes. It is often cast as older
women or a authoritative figure.
Famous examples of contraltos are Marian anderson, Ewa Podles
and kathleen Ferrier
TONE QUALITY TIMBRE
Timbre (pronounced “tam-ber”) refers to the unique “tone color”
or “sound quality” of a sound or voice. It’s the characteristic that
distinguishes one sound or instrument from another, even when
playing the same pitch.
LYRIC
-has a warm, expressive, and full sound, making it ideal for
romantic and emotional roles like Mimì in La Bohème and Micaëla
in Carmen.
DRAMATIC
A powerful, rich, and full-bodied voice suited for intense,
emotional roles that require stamina and volume.
VOCAL MUSICAL GROUPS
In vocal music, small ensembles involve a specific number of
singers, each with their own part:
1. Duet: Two singers perform together, often with
complementary or contrasting parts. Common in classical,
pop, and musical theater.
2. Trio: Three singers, each with distinct vocal lines, creating
richer harmonies. Found in operas, art songs, and popular
music.
3. Quartet: Four singers, typically harmonizing closely. Famous
in barbershop, classical (e.g., operatic quartets), and choral
music.
4. Quintet: Five singers, offering even more complex
harmonies. Less common but used in operas and specialized
choral works.
5. Sextet and larger: Six or more singers, often used in operas
or dramatic scenes for intricate, layered textures.
These ensembles allow for diverse musical effects, with singers
blending their voices to create balance and depth
OPERA STRUCTURE
An act is a large part of a play, divided to show changes in time,
location, or major plot changes.
— Ex. Act 1 – major part of a play
A scene is a smaller part within an act, focusing on a specific
event, often set in one place and time.
— Ex. Scene 1 – specific event or location in a play
COMPOSERS AND EXPANDING VOCAL RANGE
1. Giuseppe Verdi: Expanded vocal range with emotionally
intense roles in operas like La Traviata and Aida, using both
high and low registers.
2. Giacomo Puccini: Demanded wide vocal ranges for both
beauty and power in roles like Tosca and Turandot.
3. Richard Wagner: Pushed vocal limits in operas like The Ring
Cycle, requiring dramatic range from performers.
