Tessitura - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Tessitura refers to the range of notes in which a piece of music or a vocal part is most comfortably performed. It highlights the predominant pitch range, not just the highest or lowest notes.
Definition:
The general range of a musical part or voice, most comfortable for a singer.
Synonyms:
range, register, vocal span
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
monotony, dissonance
Common Collocations:
high tessitura, low tessitura, comfortable tessitura, challenging tessitura
Derivatives:
tessitural, tessiture (rare)
Usage Tips:
Use "tessitura" to describe where a voice or instrument sounds best, not just its highest or lowest notes.
Common Phrases:
"sit in the tessitura, " "navigate the tessitura, " "expand the tessitura"
Etymology:
From Italian "tessitura," meaning "texture" or "weaving," related to musical composition.
Examples:
- 1. The soprano's tessitura lies comfortably in the upper middle range.
- 2. This song's tessitura is too high for most baritones to sing effortlessly.
- 3. A singer’s tessitura determines which roles suit their voice best in opera.
- 4. The composer adjusted the melody to fit the choir’s collective tessitura better.