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Bass (voice type)

February 23, 2024

This article is about the male voice type. For other uses, see Bass.

A bass is a type of classical male singing voice and has the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a vocal range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C (i.e., E2–E4).[1][2] Its tessitura, or comfortable range, is normally defined by the outermost lines of the bass clef. Categories of bass voices vary according to national style and classification system.

Italians favour subdividing basses into the basso cantante (singing bass), basso buffo (comical bass), or the dramatic basso profondo (deep bass). The American system[3] identifies the bass-baritone, comic bass, lyric bass, and dramatic bass.

The German Fach system[4] offers further distinctions: Spielbass (Bassbuffo), Schwerer Spielbass (Schwerer Bassbuffo), Charakterbass (Bassbariton), and Seriöser Bass. These classification systems can overlap. Rare is the performer who embodies a single Fach without also touching repertoire from another category.

History edit

Cultural influence and individual variation create a wide variation in range and quality of bass singers. Parts for basses have included notes as low as the B-flat two octaves and a tone below middle C (B♭1), for example in Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 and the Rachmaninov's All-Night Vigil, A below that in Frederik Magle's symphonic suite Cantabile, G below that (e.g. Measure 76 of Ne otverzhi mene by Pavel Chesnokov) or F below those in Kheruvimskaya pesn (Song of Cherubim) by Krzysztof Penderecki. Many basso profondos have trouble reaching those notes, and the use of them in works by Slavic composers has led to the colloquial term "Russian bass" for an exceptionally deep-ranged basso profondo who can easily sing these notes. Some traditional Russian religious music calls for A2 (110 Hz) drone singing, which is doubled by A1 (55 Hz) in the rare occasion that a choir includes exceptionally gifted singers who can produce this very low human voice pitch.

Many British composers such as Benjamin Britten have written parts for bass (such as the first movement of his choral work Rejoice in the Lamb) that center far higher than the bass tessitura as implied by the clef.[1] The Harvard Dictionary of Music defines the range as being from the E below low C to middle C (i.e. E2–C4).[5]

In choral music edit

In SATB four-part mixed chorus, the bass is the lowest vocal range, below the tenor, alto, and soprano. Voices are subdivided into first bass and second bass with no distinction being made between bass and baritone voices, in contrast to the three-fold (tenor–baritone–bass) categorization of solo voices. The exception is in arrangements for male choir (TTBB) and barbershop quartets (TLBB), which sometimes label the lowest two parts baritone and bass.

Range and subtypes edit

 
 
Bass vocal range (E2–E4) notated on the bass staff (left) and on piano keyboard in green with dot marking middle C (C4)

Bass has the lowest vocal range of all voice types, with the lowest tessitura. The low extreme for basses is generally C2 (two Cs below middle C). Some extreme bass singers, referred to as basso profondos and oktavists, are able to reach much lower than this. Within opera, the lowest note in the standard bass repertoire is D2, sung by the character Osmin in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail, but few roles fall below F2.

Although Osmin's note is the lowest 'demanded' in the operatic repertoire, lower notes are heard, both written and unwritten: for example, it is traditional for basses to interpolate a low C in the duet "Ich gehe doch rathe ich dir" in the same opera; in Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier, Baron Ochs has an optional C2 ("Mein lieber Hippolyte"). The high extreme: a few bass roles in the standard repertoire call for a high F♯ or G (F♯4 and G4, the one above middle C), but few roles go over F4. In the operatic bass repertoire, the highest notes are a G♯4 (The Barber in The Nose by Shostakovich) and, in the aria "Fra l'ombre e gl'orrori" in Handel's serenata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, Polifemo reaches an A4.

Within the bass voice type category are seven generally recognized subcategories: basso cantante (singing bass), hoher bass (high bass), jugendlicher bass (juvenile bass), basso buffo ("funny" bass), Schwerer Spielbass (dramatic bass), lyric bass, and dramatic basso profondo (low bass).[6]

Basso cantante/lyric high bass/lyric bass-baritone edit

Main article: Bass-baritone

Basso cantante means "singing bass".[2] Basso cantante is a higher, more lyrical voice. It is produced using a more Italianate vocal production, and possesses a faster vibrato, than its closest Germanic/Anglo-Saxon equivalent, the bass-baritone.

Hoher Bass/dramatic high bass/dramatic bass-baritone edit

Hoher Bass or "high bass" or often a dramatic bass-baritone.

Jugendlicher Bass edit

Jugendlicher Bass (juvenile bass) denotes the role of a young man sung by a bass, regardless of the age of the singer.

Basso buffo/lyric buffo edit

Buffo, literally "funny", basses are lyrical roles that demand from their practitioners a solid coloratura technique, a capacity for patter singing and ripe tonal qualities if they are to be brought off to maximum effect. They are usually the blustering antagonist of the hero/heroine or the comic-relief fool in bel canto operas.

Schwerer Spielbass/dramatic buffo edit

English equivalent: dramatic bass

Lyric basso profondo edit

Main article: Basso profondo

Basso profondo (lyric low bass) is the lowest bass voice type. According to J. B. Steane in Voices, Singers & Critics, the basso profondo voice "derives from a method of tone-production that eliminates the more Italian quick vibrato. In its place is a kind of tonal solidity, a wall-like front, which may nevertheless prove susceptible to the other kind of vibrato, the slow beat or dreaded wobble."

Dramatic basso profondo edit

English equivalent: dramatic low bass. Dramatic basso profondo is a powerful basso profondo voice.

In Gilbert and Sullivan edit

All of the Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy operas, except Patience and The Yeomen of the Guard, have at least one lead bass. Notable roles include:

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Owen Jander; Lionel Sawkins; J. B. Steane; Elizabeth Forbes (2002). "Bass (Fr. basse; Ger. Bass; It. basso)". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.O900455. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. E2–E4/F4
  2. ^ a b "BBC Cardiff Singer of the World – Guides – Baritone and bass". BBC Cymru Wales.
  3. ^ Boldrey, Richard (1994) Guide to Operatic Roles & Arias, Redmond: PST... Inc.
  4. ^ Kloiber, Rudolf et al., (2007) Handbuch der Oper, 12th edition, Munich: Bärenreiter
  5. ^ Ranges Guide, Yale University Music Library, taken from the Harvard Dictionary of Music 27 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Bass | Music Appreciation". collegesidekick.com.

External links edit

  • Guide to the singing voice, BBC Wales
  • Basses in Bach’s vocal works
  •   Media related to Bass vocalists at Wikimedia Commons
  •   The dictionary definition of Bass at Wiktionary

February 23, 2024
bass, voice, type, this, article, about, male, voice, type, other, uses, bass, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find. This article is about the male voice type For other uses see Bass This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Bass voice type news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message A bass is a type of classical male singing voice and has the lowest vocal range of all voice types According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera a bass is typically classified as having a vocal range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C i e E2 E4 1 2 Its tessitura or comfortable range is normally defined by the outermost lines of the bass clef Categories of bass voices vary according to national style and classification system Italians favour subdividing basses into the basso cantante singing bass basso buffo comical bass or the dramatic basso profondo deep bass The American system 3 identifies the bass baritone comic bass lyric bass and dramatic bass The German Fach system 4 offers further distinctions Spielbass Bassbuffo Schwerer Spielbass Schwerer Bassbuffo Charakterbass Bassbariton and Serioser Bass These classification systems can overlap Rare is the performer who embodies a single Fach without also touching repertoire from another category Contents 1 History 2 In choral music 3 Range and subtypes 3 1 Basso cantante lyric high bass lyric bass baritone 3 2 Hoher Bass dramatic high bass dramatic bass baritone 3 3 Jugendlicher Bass 3 4 Basso buffo lyric buffo 3 5 Schwerer Spielbass dramatic buffo 3 6 Lyric basso profondo 3 7 Dramatic basso profondo 3 8 In Gilbert and Sullivan 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editCultural influence and individual variation create a wide variation in range and quality of bass singers Parts for basses have included notes as low as the B flat two octaves and a tone below middle C B 1 for example in Gustav Mahler s Symphony No 2 and the Rachmaninov s All Night Vigil A below that in Frederik Magle s symphonic suite Cantabile G below that e g Measure 76 of Ne otverzhi mene by Pavel Chesnokov or F below those in Kheruvimskaya pesn Song of Cherubim by Krzysztof Penderecki Many basso profondos have trouble reaching those notes and the use of them in works by Slavic composers has led to the colloquial term Russian bass for an exceptionally deep ranged basso profondo who can easily sing these notes Some traditional Russian religious music calls for A2 110 Hz drone singing which is doubled by A1 55 Hz in the rare occasion that a choir includes exceptionally gifted singers who can produce this very low human voice pitch Many British composers such as Benjamin Britten have written parts for bass such as the first movement of his choral work Rejoice in the Lamb that center far higher than the bass tessitura as implied by the clef 1 The Harvard Dictionary of Music defines the range as being from the E below low C to middle C i e E2 C4 5 In choral music editIn SATB four part mixed chorus the bass is the lowest vocal range below the tenor alto and soprano Voices are subdivided into first bass and second bass with no distinction being made between bass and baritone voices in contrast to the three fold tenor baritone bass categorization of solo voices The exception is in arrangements for male choir TTBB and barbershop quartets TLBB which sometimes label the lowest two parts baritone and bass Range and subtypes edit nbsp nbsp Bass vocal range E2 E4 notated on the bass staff left and on piano keyboard in green with dot marking middle C C4 Bass has the lowest vocal range of all voice types with the lowest tessitura The low extreme for basses is generally C2 two Cs below middle C Some extreme bass singers referred to as basso profondos and oktavists are able to reach much lower than this Within opera the lowest note in the standard bass repertoire is D2 sung by the character Osmin in Mozart s Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail but few roles fall below F2 Although Osmin s note is the lowest demanded in the operatic repertoire lower notes are heard both written and unwritten for example it is traditional for basses to interpolate a low C in the duet Ich gehe doch rathe ich dir in the same opera in Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier Baron Ochs has an optional C2 Mein lieber Hippolyte The high extreme a few bass roles in the standard repertoire call for a high F or G F 4 and G4 the one above middle C but few roles go over F4 In the operatic bass repertoire the highest notes are a G 4 The Barber in The Nose by Shostakovich and in the aria Fra l ombre e gl orrori in Handel s serenata Aci Galatea e Polifemo Polifemo reaches an A4 Within the bass voice type category are seven generally recognized subcategories basso cantante singing bass hoher bass high bass jugendlicher bass juvenile bass basso buffo funny bass Schwerer Spielbass dramatic bass lyric bass and dramatic basso profondo low bass 6 Basso cantante lyric high bass lyric bass baritone edit Main article Bass baritone Basso cantante means singing bass 2 Basso cantante is a higher more lyrical voice It is produced using a more Italianate vocal production and possesses a faster vibrato than its closest Germanic Anglo Saxon equivalent the bass baritone Max Le chalet by Adolphe Adam Duke Bluebeard Bluebeard s Castle by Bela Bartok Don Pizarro Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven Count Rodolfo La sonnambula by Bellini Blitch Susannah by Carlisle Floyd Mephistopheles Faust by Charles Gounod The King of Scotland Ariodante by George Frideric Handel Don Alfonso Cosi fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Don Giovanni Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Figaro The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Voice of the Oracle Idomeneo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Silva Ernani by Giuseppe Verdi Philip II Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi Count Walter Luisa Miller by Giuseppe Verdi Ferrando Il trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi Hoher Bass dramatic high bass dramatic bass baritone edit Hoher Bass or high bass or often a dramatic bass baritone Igor Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin Boris Boris Godunov by Modest Mussorgsky Klingsor Parsifal by Richard Wagner Wotan Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner Caspar Der Freischutz by Carl Maria von Weber Banquo Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi Zaccaria Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi Fiesco Simon Boccanegra by Giuseppe Verdi Jugendlicher Bass edit Jugendlicher Bass juvenile bass denotes the role of a young man sung by a bass regardless of the age of the singer Masetto Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Colline La boheme by Giacomo PucciniBasso buffo lyric buffo edit Buffo literally funny basses are lyrical roles that demand from their practitioners a solid coloratura technique a capacity for patter singing and ripe tonal qualities if they are to be brought off to maximum effect They are usually the blustering antagonist of the hero heroine or the comic relief fool in bel canto operas Don Pasquale Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti Dottor Dulcamara L elisir d amore by Gaetano Donizetti Doctor Bartolo The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini Don Magnifico La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini Don Alfonso Cosi fan tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Leporello Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Doctor Wozzeck by Alban Berg Schwerer Spielbass dramatic buffo edit English equivalent dramatic bass Khan Konchak Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin Baculus Der Wildschutz by Albert Lortzing Ferrando Il trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi Daland Der fliegende Hollander by Richard Wagner Varlaam Boris Godunov by Modest Mussorgsky Lyric basso profondo edit Main article Basso profondo Basso profondo lyric low bass is the lowest bass voice type According to J B Steane in Voices Singers amp Critics the basso profondo voice derives from a method of tone production that eliminates the more Italian quick vibrato In its place is a kind of tonal solidity a wall like front which may nevertheless prove susceptible to the other kind of vibrato the slow beat or dreaded wobble Rocco Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven Osmin Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Sarastro Die Zauberflote by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Pimen Boris Godunov by Modest Mussorgsky Baron Ochs Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss Baldassarre La favorite by Gaetano Donizetti Dramatic basso profondo edit English equivalent dramatic low bass Dramatic basso profondo is a powerful basso profondo voice Il Commendatore Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Hagen Gotterdammerung by Richard Wagner Heinrich Lohengrin by Richard Wagner Gurnemanz Parsifal by Richard Wagner Fafner Das Rheingold and Siegfried by Richard Wagner Marke Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner Hunding Die Walkure by Richard Wagner The Varangian Viking Guest Sadko by Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov The Grand Inquisitor Don Carlo by Giuseppe Verdi Claggart Billy Budd by Benjamin Britten In Gilbert and Sullivan edit All of the Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy operas except Patience and The Yeomen of the Guard have at least one lead bass Notable roles include Adam Goodheart Ruddigore Arac Princess Ida Bob Becket Carpenter s mate H M S Pinafore Don Alhambra del Bolero The Gondoliers The Mikado of Japan The Mikado The Notary The Sorcerer Private Willis Iolanthe Sergeant of Police The Pirates of PenzanceSee also editCategory of basses Fach the German system for classifying voices Voice classification in non classical music List of basses in non classical musicReferences edit a b Owen Jander Lionel Sawkins J B Steane Elizabeth Forbes 2002 Bass Fr basse Ger Bass It basso Grove Music Online 8th ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article O900455 ISBN 978 1 56159 263 0 E2 E4 F4 a b BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Guides Baritone and bass BBC Cymru Wales Boldrey Richard 1994 Guide to Operatic Roles amp Arias Redmond PST Inc Kloiber Rudolf et al 2007 Handbuch der Oper 12th edition Munich Barenreiter Ranges Guide Yale University Music Library taken from the Harvard Dictionary of Music Archived 27 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine Bass Music Appreciation collegesidekick com External links editGuide to the singing voice BBC Wales Basses in Bach s vocal works nbsp Media related to Bass vocalists at Wikimedia Commons nbsp The dictionary definition of Bass at Wiktionary Portal nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bass voice type amp oldid 1199973827, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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