SOLO SONGS & ENSEMBLES

Sorpano

Higher female voice type

Alto

Lower female voice type

Tenor

Higher male voice type

Bass

Lowest male voice type

Baritone

Low male voice type

Mezzo-Soprano

Halfway between alto and soprano

Contralto

Lowest female voice type

Aria

Solo song of an opera; clear beginning and ending

Recitative

Solo or dialogue singing; conversational; typically happens between arias/ensembles

Recitativo Secco

Dialogue accompanied only by a harpsichord

Recitativo Accompagnato

Dialogue accompanied by a full orchestra

Ensemble

Two or more singers singing together

Crescendo

Volume increases

Decrescendo

Volume decreases

Monophonic texture

Single sound (spoken dialogue or singing) without any accompaniment

Homophonic texture

Single person signing with accompaniment

Polyphonic texture

Many lines of sound (many singers and accompaniments) overlapping/combining at once