Thread by @LisaNeher

🎵To understand range and tessitura, look at standard vocal repertoire by master composers, such as An Die Musik by Franz Schubert.

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👉Notice:

1. The vocal range is an octave plus a perfect forth, much more conservative than the entire possible range of a professional classical singer, which is 2-2 ½ octaves or more. Most art song fits within a vocal range of no more than an octave plus perfect fifth.

2. Schubert doesn’t use the most extreme high or extreme low notes of the singer. The notes fit into the medium low zone of a singer’s range.

3. The low key is a minor third lower than the high key. A third is approximately the difference between the comfortable ranges & tessituras of most sopranos/tenors and mezzos/baritones.

4. High notes are approached from below and resolved downwards—an idiomatic and comfortable way to sing them. The highest note is only sung twice per verse and is not sustained for very long.

5. The melody moves up and down throughout the range, which makes it comfortable to sing. You don’t sit in any particular area for too long.

👉What this means is:

1. Singers from advanced high school to professionals sing this song successfully.

2. This song doesn’t overly tax the singer, and thus can be performed as part of a 60-90 minute vocal recital.

3. The limited range allows for multiple transpositions to exist, expanding the population of singers who can sing this song.

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