Mus. [a. It. alto high (sc. canto singing).] A. sb.
1. strictly, The highest male voice, the counter-tenor; formerly considered as restricted in compass to a sixth above and a sixth below the ‘middle C’; also, the musical part for this voice.
1819. Pantol., Alto, in music, the highest natural tenor voice.
1883. C. Woolson, in Harper’s Mag., March, 567/2. He could join in with his soft little alto.
2. Extended also to, The female voice of similar range, or the musical part sung by it, more strictly known as contralto.
1881. A. Hopkinson, Waiting, vi. 129. The Count takes the accompaniment, Anne and Dolly the treble and alto.
1883. Harper’s Mag., Feb., 443/1. Their united voices serving only as a foil to her powerful alto.
3. One who has an alto voice.
1784. Europ. Mag., V. 324. Altos,—Rev. Mr. Clark … and 48 assistants.
1850. Illustr. Lond. News, XVII. 368. The entire Choir … is not here, there are … ten altos, six tenors, etc.
4. = ALT2.
1862. T. Martin, Horace (1870), 265. From C in alto down to double D.
5. The Italian name for a tenor violin.
1833. Penny Cycl., I. 404. Alto … called in England the Tenor, and by the Italians, the Viola.
b. attrib. as adj. Belonging to the alto. Alto clef: the C clef when placed on the third line of the stave. Alto-ripieno [f. It. ripiéno that which fills up]: a tenor part, instrumental or vocal, used only occasionally in a grand chorus.
1845. E. Holmes, Mozart, 347. It was sung by his visiters round his bed;—himself taking the alto part.
1871. Haweis, Mus. & Mor., ix. 353. A quiet alto song, full of solemn pathos.
1879. Curwen, Mus. Theory, 23–4. The Alto or Contralto Clef is … a C Clef but it is placed in the middle line.
