List of mezzo-sopranos in non-classical music

The mezzo-soprano is the middle female voice with vocal range that typically lies between the A below "middle C" (C4) to the A two octaves above (i.e. A3 - A5. In the lower and upper extremes, some mezzo-sopranos may extend down to the F below middle C (F3) and as high as "high C" (C6).[1] The mezzo-soprano voice (unlike the soprano voice) is strong in the middle register and weaker in the head register, resulting in a deeper tone than the soprano voice.[2]

The term mezzo-soprano was developed in relation to classical and operatic voices, where the classification is based not merely on the singer's vocal range but also on the tessitura and timbre of the voice. For classical and operatic singers, their voice type determines the roles they will sing and is a primary method of categorization. In non-classical music, singers are primarily defined by their genre and their gender not their vocal range.[3] When the terms soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, and bass are used as descriptors of non-classical voices, they are applied more loosely than they would be to those of classical singers and generally refer only to the singer's perceived vocal range.

The following is a list of singers in country, popular music, jazz, classical-crossover, and musical theatre[4] who have been described as mezzo-sopranos.

List of names

Beyoncé Knowles Whitney Houston Amy Lee Ethel Merman Enya Alanis Morissette Madonna

See also

References

  1. ^ Appelman, D. Ralph (1986). The Science of Vocal Pedagogy: Theory and Application. Indiana University Press. 
  2. ^ Identifying the Fab Four Singing Voices
  3. ^ Axelrod, Alan, The complete idiot's guide to jazz, Alpha Books, 1999, pp. 68-69 (ISBN 0028627318). See also Tarasti, Eero, Signs of music: a guide to musical semiotics, Walter de Gruyter, 2002, pp. 157-178 (ISBN 3110172267)
  4. ^ For a detailed description of the differences between the operatic and musical theatre voice see Björkner, Eva, Why so different? Aspects of voice characteristics in operatic and musical theatre singing, KTH School of Computer Science and Communication, 2006 (ISBN 9171785183)
  5. ^ Live-Metal.Net: DVD Reviews - Within Temptation - Black Symphony
  6. ^ Under the Pink by Tori Amos
  7. ^ "Beyonce – B'Day: Sophomore Slump Narrowly Avoided". IGN Entertainment. September 6, 2006. http://music.ign.com/articles/730/730624p1.html. Retrieved January 12, 2010. 
  8. ^ Mary J. Blige's Road to BET Awards '11
  9. ^ Review of Susan Boyle 'The Gift'
  10. ^ "Enya News and Trivias at". Celebritywonder.com. http://www.celebritywonder.com/html/enya_trivia1.html. Retrieved 2011-05-16. 
  11. ^ Pleasants, H. (1974). The Great American Popular Singers. Simon and Schuster.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Dean, Maury (2003). Rock-N-Roll Gold Rush. Algora Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 0875862071. http://books.google.com/?id=lJS4EArRBwoC&dq=Rock-N-Roll+Gold+Rush+mariah+carey&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&q=whitney+houston#PPA34,M1. 
  13. ^ Arch Enemy - Interview with Angela Gossow - Enslain Magazine
  14. ^ Pareles, Jon (February 24, 2000). "Ofra Haza, 41, Israeli Pop Singer Who Crossed Cultural Bounds". The New York Times (New York, USA). http://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/24/arts/ofra-haza-41-israeli-pop-singer-who-crossed-cultural-bounds.html. Retrieved July 28, 2011. 
  15. ^ "Jennifer Hudson: Bringing Down the House". vogue.com. http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/jennifer-hudson-bringing-down-the-house/. Retrieved 2011-08-03. 
  16. ^ http://www.sweetslyrics.com/reviews-4927-Alison%20Krauss%20-%20Paper%20Airplane%20(ft.%20Union%20Station).html
  17. ^ Amy Lee - Celebrity information
  18. ^ Leona Lewis Echo Review
  19. ^ Corner, Lewis (04 September 2011). "Leona Lewis Feat. Avicii - Collide Review". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a336416/leona-lewis-ft-avicii-collide-single-review.html. Retrieved 26 December 2011. 
  20. ^ "Frida Lyngstad interview". icethesite. http://www.icethesite.com/2010/09/a-brand-new-frida-interview-about-her-latest-recording-and-future-plans/. Retrieved 26 November 2011. 
  21. ^ Michael Darvell. "Ethel Merman: A 100th-Anniversary Tribute". classicalsource.com. http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_features.php?id=5388. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 
  22. ^ "Bette Midler". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/ae/bette-midler/. 
  23. ^ POP REVIEW; A Good Girl Getting Good and Mad
  24. ^ Bio of Patricia Morrison
  25. ^ Marissa Nadler Will Break Your 'Diamond Heart'
  26. ^ Luck Of The Draw by Bonnie Raitt
  27. ^ Consign to Oblivion - Epica
  28. ^ Heart and Soul by Dusty Springfield
  29. ^ She Works Hard for the Money: Donna Summer
  30. ^ Pleasants, H. (1985). The Great American Popular Singers. Simon and Schuster.