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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.

tessitura

/tɛsɪˈtʊrə/ /tɛsɪˈtjʊərə/

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.

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