LilyPond Music Glossary: 1.13 alto

## 1.13 alto

ES: alto, I: contralto, F: alto, D: Alt, NL: alt, DK: alt, S: alt, FI: altto, matala naisääni.

A female voice of low range (contralto). Originally the alto was a high male voice (hence the name), which by castration or the use of falsetto reached the height of the natural female voice. This type of voice is also known as countertenor.

#### See also

countertenor.

#### LilyPond — Music Glossary v2.22.2 (stable-branch).