Bass (vocal range)
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A bass (or basso in Italian) is a male singer who sings in the lowest vocal range of the human voice. A typical bass has a range extending from around the F below the bottom of the bass clef to the E above middle C (i.e. F2-E4). OWEN JANDER, LIONEL SAWKINS, J. B. STEANE, ELIZABETH FORBES: 'Bass', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 14 June 2006),
Contents
Types
In classical music, and particularly in opera, the following distinctions are often made among different kinds of bass voices:- Basso profondo (frequently misspelled basso profundo, also French basse noble) is a particularly deep and resonant voice. It may reach the D, C or even B flat below the bass clef, but is most distinguished by its dark and cavernous timbre. This kind of bass typically plays an older man. In Russian choir or music sung by Buddhist monks it is even one octave lower than normal bass range.
- Basso cantante (French basse chantante) is a lighter, more lyrical voice, perhaps with a slightly higher range. A typical role in opera is Escamillo from Bizet's Carmen.
- Basso buffo literally means "comic bass." It is used to describe operatic roles that do not call for lyrical, elaborate singing but do require a strong comic acting ability. A typical role in opera is Don Bartolo from Rossini's opera Il barbiere di Siviglia.
- Bass-baritone is a voice with the resonant low notes of the typical bass but with the ability to sing in a baritonal tessitura. Sometimes it also refers to a voice with a range and tone somewhere between a bass and a baritone. A typical role in opera is Wotan from Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.
Bass roles in opera
- Sarastro The Magic Flute by (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Dramatic Bass
- Figaro The Marriage of Figaro by (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Bass-Baritone
- King Phillip Don Carlos by (Giuseppe Verdi) Dramatic Bass
- Baculus, Der Wildschütz by (Albert Lortzing) Schwerer Spielbass
- Osmin, Die Entführung aus dem Serail by (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Bass Buffo
- Don Pasquale, Don Pasquale by (Gaetano Donizetti) Bass Buffo
- Don Alfonso, Cosi Fan Tutte by (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) Bass-Baritone
- Zaccaria, Nabucco by (Giuseppe Verdi) Lyric Bass
- Mephistofeles, Faust by (Charles Gounod) Lyric Bass
- König Marke, Tristan und Isolde by (Richard Wagner) Dramatic bass
- Banquo Macbeth by (Giuseppe Verdi) Dramatic bass
- Dottore Grenvil and Marchesse d'Obigny (La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi)
- Don Giovanni, Leporello, Masetto, and the Commendatore (Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
- Dottore Bartolo The Marriage of Figaro by (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
Bass roles in operettas
- The Mikado of Japan (The Mikado)
- Sergeant of Police (The Pirates of Penzance)
- Old Adam Goodheart (Ruddigore)
- Private Willis (Iolanthe)
Bass roles in musicals
- Audrey II (The Plant) (Little Shop of Horrors)
- Barney ([[Pirates: a Romeo and Juliet Story]])
- Caiaphas (Jesus Christ Superstar)
- Emile de Becque (South Pacific)
- Joe (Show Boat)
- Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd)
- Leon Czolgosz (Assassins)
See also
References
External links
- [BBC Guide to the singing voice]
- [Basses in Bach’s Vocal Works].
- [Cantata BWV 168 – Discussions].
- [link]
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