Alto

8 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Viola \Vi"o*la\, n. [It. See {Viol}.] (Mus.)
     An instrument in form and use resembling the violin, but
     larger, and a fifth lower in compass.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Viola da braccio} [It., viol for the arm], the tenor viol,


        or viola, a fifth lower than the violin. Its part is
        written in the alto clef, hence it is sometimes called the
        {alto}.
  
     {Viola da gamba} [It., viol for the leg], an instrument
        resembling the viola, but larger, and held between the
        knees. It is now rarely used.
  
     {Viola da spalla} [It., viol for the shoulder], an instrument
        formerly used, resembling the viola, and intermediate in
        size between the viola and the viola da gamba.
  
     {Viola di amore} [It., viol of love: cf. F. viole d'amour], a
        viol, larger than the viola, having catgut strings upon,
        and brass or steel wires under, the keyboard. These,
        sounding sympathetically with the strings, yield a
        peculiarly soft and silvery sound. It is now seldom used.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Alto \Al"to\, n.; pl. {Altos}. [It. alto high, fr. L. altus. Cf.
     {Alt}.]
     1. (Mus.) Formerly the part sung by the highest male, or
        counter-tenor, voices; now the part sung by the lowest
        female, or contralto, voices, between in tenor and
        soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An alto singer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Alto clef} (Mus.) the counter-tenor clef, or the C clef,
        placed so that the two strokes include the middle line of
        the staff. --Moore.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  high-pitched \high-pitched\ adj.
     1. high in pitch or frequency; -- used of sounds and voices.
        Opposite of {low}. [Narrower terms: {adenoidal, pinched,
        nasal}; {altissimo}; {alto}; {countertenor, alto};
        {falsetto}; {peaky, spiky}; {piping}; {shrill, sharp};
        {screaky, screechy, squeaking, squeaky, squealing};
        {soprano, treble}; {sopranino}; {tenor}]
  
     Syn: high.
          [WordNet 1.5]
  
     2. set at a sharp or high angle or slant; as, a high-pitched
        roof.
  
     Syn: steeply pitched, steep.
          [WordNet 1.5] high-power

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  alto
       adj 1: of or being the lowest female voice [syn: {contralto}]
       2: of or being the highest male voice; having a range above
          that of tenor [syn: {countertenor}]
       3: (of a musical instrument) second highest member of a group;
          "alto clarinet or recorder"
       n 1: a singer whose voice lies in the alto clef
       2: the lowest female singing voice [syn: {contralto}]
       3: the highest adult male singing voice [syn: {countertenor}]
       4: the pitch range of the lowest female voice

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  76 Moby Thesaurus words for "alto":
     Heldentenor, Meistersinger, accompaniment, aria singer, baritenor,
     baritone, bass, basso, basso buffo, basso cantante, basso continuo,
     basso ostinato, basso profundo, bassus, blues singer, canary,
     cantatrice, canto, cantor, cantus, cantus figuratus, cantus planus,
     caroler, chanter, chantress, coloratura soprano, comic bass,
     continuo, contralto, countertenor, crooner, deep bass, descant,
     diva, dramatic soprano, drone, falsetto, figured bass, ground bass,
     head register, head tone, head voice, heroic tenor, hymner,
     improvisator, lead singer, lieder singer, line, male alto,
     melodist, mezzo-soprano, opera singer, part, plain chant,
     plain song, prick song, prima donna, psalm singer,
     rock-and-roll singer, singer, singstress, songbird, songster,
     songstress, soprano, tenor, thorough bass, torch singer, treble,
     undersong, vocalist, vocalizer, voice, voice part, warbler,
     yodeler
  
  

From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:

  Alto, GA (town, FIPS 1948)
    Location: 34.46744 N, 83.57448 W
    Population (1990): 651 (245 housing units)
    Area: 2.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
    Zip code(s): 30510
  Alto, LA
    Zip code(s): 71269
  Alto, MI
    Zip code(s): 49302
  Alto, TX (town, FIPS 2188)
    Location: 31.65044 N, 95.07086 W
    Population (1990): 1027 (486 housing units)
    Area: 4.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:

  Alto, GA -- U.S. town in Georgia
     Population (2000):    876
     Housing Units (2000): 325
     Land area (2000):     0.825495 sq. miles (2.138023 sq. km)
     Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
     Total area (2000):    0.825495 sq. miles (2.138023 sq. km)
     FIPS code:            01948
     Located within:       Georgia (GA), FIPS 13
     Location:             34.466531 N, 83.573820 W
     ZIP Codes (1990):     30510
     Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
     Headwords:
      Alto, GA
      Alto
  

From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:

  Alto, TX -- U.S. town in Texas
     Population (2000):    1190
     Housing Units (2000): 534
     Land area (2000):     1.682909 sq. miles (4.358713 sq. km)
     Water area (2000):    0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
     Total area (2000):    1.682909 sq. miles (4.358713 sq. km)
     FIPS code:            02188
     Located within:       Texas (TX), FIPS 48
     Location:             31.650131 N, 95.073810 W
     ZIP Codes (1990):    
     Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
     Headwords:
      Alto, TX
      Alto