Alto clef

Alto clef
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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alto clef — Clef Clef (kl[e^]f; 277), n. [F. clef key, a key in music, fr. L. clavis key. See {Clavicle}.] (Mus.) A character used in musical notation to determine the position and pitch of the scale as represented on the staff. [1913 Webster] Note: The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alto clef — n. a C clef on the third line of a staff: used in notation, esp. for the viola …   English World dictionary

  • alto clef — Counter tenor Coun ter ten or (t?n ?r). [OF. contreteneur. Cf. {Contratenor}, and see {Tenor} a part in music.] (Mus.) One of the middle parts in music, between the tenor and the treble; high tenor. [1913 Webster] {Counter tenor clef} (Mus.), the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alto clef — noun a clef that puts middle C on the third line of a staff • Syn: ↑viola clef • Hypernyms: ↑clef …   Useful english dictionary

  • alto clef — Music. a sign locating middle C on the third line of the staff. Also called viola clef. See illus. under C clef. [1875 80] * * * …   Universalium

  • alto clef — noun The C clef when placed on the third line of the staff in musical notation. Also known as the viola clef for it use in music for viola and viola da gamba although it used as well for other instruments.<br style= clear:both; /> …   Wiktionary

  • alto clef — noun Music a clef placing middle C on the middle line of the stave, used chiefly for viola music …   English new terms dictionary

  • alto clef — al′to clef n. mad a sign locating middle C on the third line of the staff • Etymology: 1875–80 …   From formal English to slang

  • alto clef — /ˈæltoʊ klɛf/ (say altoh klef) noun Music a sign placing middle C on the third line of the stave …  

  • Clef — (kl[e^]f; 277), n. [F. clef key, a key in music, fr. L. clavis key. See {Clavicle}.] (Mus.) A character used in musical notation to determine the position and pitch of the scale as represented on the staff. [1913 Webster] Note: The clefs are… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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