Tenor facts for kids
A tenor is a male singer with a high voice. In many types of music, especially opera, tenors often sing the parts of young male characters. Tenor voices can sound different depending on how loud they are, their unique sound (called "color"), and their singing style. Because of these differences, tenors are grouped into different types.
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What Are the Different Types of Tenors?
There are several types of tenor voices, each with its own special qualities.
Light Tenor (Tenor Leggero)
A light tenor, also known as a tenor leggero, has a voice that is bright and agile. This means they can sing fast, clear notes easily. An example is Peter Pears, who was famous for singing in operas by Benjamin Britten.
Lyric Tenor
The lyric tenor has a smooth and rich voice. Their sound is often described as warm and full. Some of the most famous lyric tenors include "The Three Tenors": Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras, and Plácido Domingo.
Spinto Tenor
A spinto tenor has a voice that can be powerful and dramatic, but also light and lyrical when needed. They are especially good at singing very high notes with strength. Famous spinto tenors include Franco Corelli and Enrico Caruso.
Dramatic Tenor
Dramatic tenors have a very strong and loud voice. Their voice often sounds darker and fuller than other tenor types. An example of a dramatic tenor is Mario Del Monaco.
Hero Tenor (Heldentenor)
A Heldentenor is a German word meaning "hero tenor." These singers have very big, powerful tenor voices. They are perfect for singing the parts of heroes in operas, especially those by Wagner. Famous hero tenors include Lauritz Melchior, Max Lorenz, and Jonas Kaufmann.
Mozart Tenor
A Mozart tenor is a singer who can perform the challenging music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. They need to have a voice that is clear, precise, and able to follow the strict style of Mozart's compositions. Important Mozart tenors include Anton Dermota, Fritz Wunderlich, and Francisco Araiza.
Tenors in Choirs and Barbershop Music
In music written for four-part choirs, the tenor part is usually the third line from the top. It sings between the alto and bass voices.
How Tenor Music is Written
Tenor music is often written using the treble clef, which is a common symbol in music. However, even though it's written in the treble clef, the notes a tenor sings actually sound an octave (eight notes) lower than they appear on the page. Sometimes, tenor music is written using a special "C-clef," which is also called a tenor clef.
Tenors in Barbershop Singing
In barbershop singing, the tenor part is a harmony voice. This means it sings notes that blend with the main melody. The tenor part in barbershop music is usually sung higher than the melody, adding a bright, ringing sound to the group.
See also
In Spanish: Tenor para niños
