Bass (vocal range)
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A bass (or basso in Italian) is a male singer who sings in the deepest vocal range of the human voice. According to Grove Music Online, a bass has a range extending from around the F below low C to the E above middle C (i.e., F2–E4).[1] The Harvard Dictionary of Music defines the range as being from the E below low C to middle C (i.e., E2–C4).[2] According to Singing For Dummies, bass range is normally F2 to E4 but can be as wide as Eb2 to F4. According to its author, Pamelia S. Phillips, the bass changes from chest voice into middle voice around A3 or Ab3 below Middle C and changes into head voice around D4 or C#4 above Middle C. Phillips states that the basses' low voice is its strength, and the basses' high voice is its weakness. Phillips also states that the basses' voice is the deepest, darkest, and heaviest of the male voices. [3]
It is also common for men who are classified as "basses" (and have a full bass choral range) to have a speaking voice which may sound much higher than would be expected. Most seasoned basses also can train a very versatile falsetto making their usefulness in a choral arrangement even more welcome.
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[edit] Bass roles in opera
| Common vocal ranges represented on a musical keyboard |
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In classical music, and particularly in opera, the following distinctions are often made among different kinds of bass voices:
[edit] Basso Profondo
- Basso profondo in English, is a particularly deep male voice (profondo means deep). It may reach the D, C or even B flat below the bass clef, but is most distinguished by its dark and cavernous timbre. The Male Choir of St. Petersburg has seven bassi profundi out of its 22 total basses who are capable of easily reaching bottom G.[4]
- Roles:
- Sarastro, The Magic Flute/Die Zauberflöte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. [5]
- Grand Inquisitor, Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi. [5]
- Osmin, Die Entführung aus dem Serail by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. [5]
- Hagen, Götterdämmerung by Wagner. [5]
[edit] Basso Buffo / Bel Canto Bass
- Buffo, literally "funny," basses are lyrical roles but demand a solid coloratura technique. They are usually the antagonist or the comic relief in Bel Canto operas.
- Roles:
- Don Bartolo, The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini
- Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini
- Don Magnifico, La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini
- Dottor Dulcamara, L'elisir d'amore by Gaetano Donizetti
[edit] Basso Cantante
- Basso Cantante means 'singing'.[5] Basso cantante is a more lyrical voice.
- Roles:
- Boris, Boris Godunov by Musorgsky[5]
- Prince Gremin, Eugene Onegin (opera) by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
- Count Rodolfo, La Sonnambula by Bellini [5]
- Philip II, Don Carlos by Verdi[5]
- Zaccaria, Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi.[citation needed]
- Mephistofeles, Faust by Charles Gounod.[citation needed]
[edit] Dramatic Bass
- Khan Konchak, Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin.
- Vladimir Yaroslavich, Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin.
- König Marke, Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner.
- Banquo, Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi.
- The Commandant Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
[edit] Bass roles in operettas and musicals
- The Mikado of Japan (The Mikado)
- Sergeant of Police (The Pirates of Penzance)
- Old Adam Goodheart (Ruddigore)
- Private Willis (Iolanthe)
- Carpenter's mate (HMS Pinafore)
[edit] Bass roles in musicals
- Audrey II (The Plant) (must go up to high G, and can be played by baritone with dark tone as well) (Little Shop of Horrors)
- Caiaphas (Jesus Christ Superstar)
- High Priests (Jesus Christ Superstar)
- Emile de Becque (South Pacific)
- Joe (Show Boat)
- Judge Turpin (Sweeney Todd)
- Major Holmes (The Secret Garden)
- Leon Czolgosz (Assassins)
- Mack Sennett (Mack and Mabel)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ OWEN JANDER, LIONEL SAWKINS, J. B. STEANE, ELIZABETH FORBES: 'Bass', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 14 June 2006), <http://www.grovemusic.com>
- ^ Ranges Guide - Yale University Music Library, taken from the Harvard Dictionary of Music [1]
- ^ Pamelia S. Phillips. Identifying the Fab Four of Singing Voices (English). Wiley Publishing. Retrieved on Error: invalid time. “"Bass is the lowest of the voice types..."”
- ^ EMI Classics - The Male Choir Of St. Petersberg CD Booklet - Vadim Afanasiev
- ^ a b c d e f g h Bass Guide - BBC link
