Basso

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A vocal classification noted for its rich, low tones typically found in formal music compositions This type of voice exemplifies the deeper end of male vocal ranges, often highlighted in operatic works A performer skilled in producing lower frequency sounds, commonly associated with group singing or soloist presentations
2. A deep male singing voice recognized for its low pitch and sonorous quality ; a stringed or keyboard instrument that produces bass tones supporting harmonic harmony in music
3. The lowest male vocal range characterized by a rich, resonant sound ideal in choral and solo singing ; an instrument providing the underpinning bass notes in ensembles or compositions

Etymology: The lowest male voice in choral and operatic music takes its name from an adjective meaning "low." Italian "basso" comes from Latin "bassus," which meant "short" or "low," and the same Latin root gave English "base" and "bass." The Italian musical term was applied to the voice itself, so the singer and the register share one name. "Base" and "bass" are doublets, two words from the same source that reached English by different routes. "Base," meaning the bottom or foundation of something, came into English through Old French, while "bass" entered through Italian musical usage, the same channel that brought "basso" as a voice type. The two spellings now sit side by side with unrelated meanings, though both descend from the Latin adjective for something low or short.

Synonyms: bass, low voice