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vocal range of a tenor. Note that the "8" below the key means the notes are anoctave lower than shown.
Atenor is a man with a high singing voice. When writing four-part choir music the tenor line will be the third line down, betweenalto andbass. It is usually written in thetreble clef, but will sound anoctave lower than written. Sometimes, it is written in the "C-clef", which is also called a tenor clef.
In opera the role of the young male is usually sung by a tenor. Depending on characteristics such as: volume, color and style, the tenor voice is classified in following groups:
The light tenor. This is also called tenor leggero. An example isPeter Pears, who sang the tenor solos inBenjamin Britten’s operas.
The dramatic tenor. They have a high volume and a dark voice. An example isMario Del Monaco.
A “Heldentenor” (German for “hero tenor”) is someone with a big tenor voice. This is suitable for heroic parts like the heroes in most ofWagner's operas.Lauritz Melchior,Max Lorenz andJonas Kaufmann are famous heroic tenors.
The Mozart tenor with characteristics including all of the previous mentioned must be able to perform within the strict borders which are laid out by the Mozart style.Anton Dermota,Fritz Wunderlich andFrancisco Araiza are the three leading people as Mozart tenor.
In barbershop singing, the tenor part is a harmony part sung predominantly higher than the melody.
