Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word ''altus'', meaning "high", that has several possible interpretations.

When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence, for example, the term "alto saxophone". In other "families", such as the trombone, there is no soprano, the alto having been the highest, although it is absent from the standard modern symphony orchestra.

In choral music, "alto" describes the second highest voice part in a four-part chorus. As well as being the modern Italian word for "high", in the present context it is an Italian abbreviation derived from the Latin phrase ''contratenor altus'', used in medieval polyphony, usually to describe the highest of three parts, the line of which was in counterpoint (in other words, against = contra) with the tenor (which "held" the main melody; this word itself originates in the Latin verb ''tenere'', meaning "to hold").

The alto range in choral music is approximately from G3 (the G below middle C) to F5 (the F in the second octave above middle C). In common usage, alto is used to describe the voice type that typically sings this part, though this is not strictly correct: alto, like the other three standard modern choral voice classifications (soprano, tenor and bass) was originally intended to describe a part within a homophonic or polyphonic texture, rather than an individual voice type; neither are the terms alto and contralto interchangeable or synonymous, though they are often treated as such. Although some women who sing alto in a choir are contraltos, many would be more accurately called mezzo-sopranos (a voice of somewhat higher range and different timbre), and many men countertenors (this latter term is a source of considerable controversy, some authorities preferring the usage of the term "male alto" for those countertenors who use a predominantly falsetto voice production). The contralto voice is a matter of vocal timbre and vocal tessitura as well as range, and a classically-trained solo contralto would usually have a range greater than that of a normal choral alto part in both the upper and lower ranges. However, the vocal tessitura of a classically trained contralto would still make these singers more comfortable singing in the lower part of the voice. A choral non-solo contralto may also have a low range down to D3 (thus perhaps finding it easier to sing the choral tenor part), but some would have difficulty singing above E5. In a choral context mezzo-sopranos and contraltos might sing the alto part, together with countertenors, thus having three vocal timbres (and two means of vocal production) singing the same notes.

Alto is rarely used to describe a solo voice, though there is a multitude of terms in common usage in various languages and in different cultures for solo singers in this range. Examples include contralto, countertenor, ''haute-contre'', and ''tenor altino'' among others.

The term alto is also used to designate a specific kind of musical clef. See alto clef.

See also

Countertenor

Fach, the German system for classifying voices

Voice classification in non-classical music

Voice type

Contralto

References

Further reading

Category:Voice types Category:Pitch (music)

cs:Alt et:Alt es:Alto eo:Aldo fa:آلتو fr:Alto (voix) ko:알토 hr:Alt hu:Alt ms:Alto nl:Alt (zangstem) ja:アルト pl:Alt (głos) pt:Alto (voz) ru:Альт (голос) simple:Alto sl:Alt sh:Altovi sr:Алт fi:Altto sv:Alt th:อัลโต uk:Альт (голос) zh:女低音

Name	Fabri Fibra
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Fabrizio Tarducci
Brother	Nesli
Birth date	October 17, 1976
Origin	Senigallia, Marche, Italy
Genre	Hip hop, pop rap, electro hop
Years active	1996–present
Website	http://www.fabrifibra.it }}

Fabri Fibra (born Fabrizio Tarducci on 17 October 1976) is an Italian rapper.

Biography

Tarducci was born in Senigallia, Marche. He became interested in music from a young age; he wrote and performed his first piece when he was 17 years old.

In 1995 he recorded his first demo. He created the tandem Uomini di Mare with DJ Lato, beatmaker and deejay, and in 1996 they produced the underground CD ''Dei del mare quest'el gruv''. In 1999 Fabri and Lato produced and distributed the LP ''Sindrome di fine millennio'' ''("End of the Millennium Syndrome")'', with collaborations from El Presidente (also known as Esa), Inoki, Joe Cassano and his brother Nesli.

Following his underground success, Fabri Fibra began performing around Italy. In 2000 he established his label and group Teste Mobili Records (Bobbing Head Records), and collaborated with various Italian rap groups, lending vocals as well as lyrics to the mixtape circuit.

Solo career

''Turbe Giovanili'' (2002)

In 2002 Fabri released his first solo album, titled ''Turbe giovanili'' ''(Juvenile Troubles)'', for which he wrote and recorded his lyrics under the production and arrangement of Neffa. A year later Fabri distributed ''Lato e Fabri Fibra'' which brought a close to the partnership with Lato and the Uomini di mare project.

Nesli's ''Home'' and Fabri Fibra's ''Mr. Simpatia'' were released simultaneously on 1 September 2004.

''Mr. Simpatia'' (2004)

Released in 2004, ''Mr. Simpatia'' ''(Mr. Sympathy)'' is Fibra's second solo album. All the instrumental bases were made by his younger brother, the rapper Nesli Rice, with the exceptions of "Non Ti Invidio" ("I Don't Envy You") (made by Bassi Maestro) and the album's bonus track (by Bosca).

The album cover shows Fibra's head lying on its side with a gruesome injury. ''Mr. Simpatia'' is an ironic title; the tracks' main themes are the Italian hip hop scene, contempt for society, relationships with girls, and Fibra's frustration about his job.

''Tradimento'' (2006)

After splitting from his recording company contract at Vibrarecords, Fabri went underground and went unheard from for a year, until he resurfaced with a new deal at major recording company Universal Music Italia. Under the production of Fish and brother Nesli Fabri created his most commercially and artistically successful album, ''Tradimento'' ("Betrayal"). His first single, released in Europe 4 April 2006, was "Applausi per Fibra" ("Applause for Fibra"). The single discussed Fibra's personal and life experiences overcome by Fabri himself, with a certain emphasis on self-praise.

Only a week after the official launch (6 June 2006) the album reached the number one spot in album sales. However it was criticized for its use of expletives, indifference in its presentation of provocative themes, and its misogynist views of women, all of which were found across the album.

Following the success of "Applausi per Fibra", the second, more urban-themed single, "Su le mani" ("On Your Hands"), was released. This was followed by the release of "Mal di stomaco" ("Stomachache"), which gained instant infamy, most notably for the originality of its music video (a fabricated broadcast of SKY TG24 - a Satellite news station) that reports on the death of Fabri Fibra in a car accident. The authenticity is sealed with "live coverage" reports, interviews from famous stars such as Fernanda Lessa, Eva Henger, Jimmy Ghione, producer Fish, rapper Vacca and brother Nesli. The video ends with Fabri's body disappearing from the morgue.

The last single is "Idee stupide" ("Stupid Idea"), with a black and white video which, whilst not as original as the former video, uses a ''Rocky''-style montage that compliments Fabri's underdog lyrics.

In 2010, ''Tradimento'' came second in a newspaper poll, making it the second most important album of the decade in Italy. ''Tradimento'' is the biggest selling album in Italian music history.

''Bugiardo'' (2008)

Fabri Fibra's next album, ''Bugiardo'' ''(Liar)'', came out on 9 November 2007, after the release of the street-single "Questo è il nuovo singolo" ("This is the new single"). The first official single, "Bugiardo", came out on 15 October 2007 and the second official single being "La Soluzione" ("The Solution"), which came out on 9 November 2007. On 25 April 2008, Fibra released the single “In Italia” featuring singer Gianna Nannini. The song became a massive summer hit, being the most watched music video in Italy of 2008 and earning a nomination at the MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Italian Act.

'' Chi Vuole Essere Fabri Fibra? '' (2009)

On 10 April 2009, Fibra released his fifth album, entitled ''Chi Vuole Essere Fabri Fibra?'' ''(Who Wants To Be Fabri Fibra?)'' He released two songs from the album, entitled "Incomprensioni" ("Incomprehension") (featuring Federico Zampaglione) and "Speak English", which discusses the cultural differences between Italy and England; the video for "Speak English" was shot in Brighton, where Fibra lived and worked for four years. A track off the album, entitled "Donna Famosa" ("Famous Woman"), is featured in the soundtrack of the ''FIFA 10'' football video game.

'' Controcultura '' (2010)

From 18 February 2010, MTV Italia broadcast a program on Thursday nights entitled ''Fabri Fibra: Italy''. The program was defined as a docu-drama, and included five episodes showing the lives of young people living in socially disadvantaged situations. On 4 May 2010, Fibra released a remastered album of ''Turbe giovanilili'', entituled ''Turbe giovanili Remaster''. On 20 July 2010, Fibra also released his first web-album, entitled ''Quorum'', which is available in his website.

The album ''Controcultura'' ''(Counterculture)'' was released on 7 September 2010 and reached #1 in the Italian albums chart. The album has so far spawned three singles named "Vip In Trip", "Tranne Te" ("Except for You") (both peaking at #2 in the Italian singles chart), "Qualcuno Normale" ("Somebody Normal") featuring the artist Marracash and "Le Donne" ("The Women"). Fibra said that "Le Donne" music was a response to the bales of misogyny that he had to face for years, mainly because of "Mrs. Simpatia".

On 1 March 2011, Fibra released the "Tranne Te: Rap Futuristico EP", a extended-play which had remixes of Tranne Te with other artists, like Redman, the French rapper Soprano and old friends from Fibra like Marracash and Dargen D'Amico. At the same month, Fibra released a online mixtape named "Venerdì 17" ("Friday 17"), available to download for free on his website. It contains many freestyles and remixes of some of his earlier work including many remixes of some of his more recent work.

The year of 2011 was also remarkable for Fibra, which he has won four consecutives awards: the platinum disc for "Controcultura", a multiplatinum disc for "Tranne Te", a "Superman" award from the TRL Awards 2011 and a "Wind Music" award.

In the Summer of 2011 Fibra launched his own record label named "Tempi Duri" (Hard Times). Young rappers Entics and Clementino have been signed to the label.

Discography

1996 - Del mare quest'el gruv

1999 - Sindrome di fine millenio

2002 - ''Turbe giovanili''

2004 - ''Mr. Simpatia''

2005 - ''Mr. Simpatia (Live)''

2005 - ''Mr. Simpatia (Gold Edition)''

2006 - ''Tradimento ''

2006 - ''Tradimento + Pensieri scomodi''

2007 - ''Bugiardo''

2009 - ''Chi vuole essere Fabri Fibra?'' (Gold)

2010 - ''Turbe giovanili Remaster''

2010 - ''Quorum''

2010 - ''Controcultura'' (Platinum)

2011 - ''Tranne Te: Rap Futuristico EP (EP)

2011 - ''Venerdì 17'' (Mixtape)

Singles

''Applausi per Fibra'' (2006)

''Mal di stomaco'' (2006)

''Su Le Mani (Street Single)'' (2006)

''Idee Stupide'' (2006)

''Questo è Il Nuovo Singolo (Street Single)'' (2007)

''Bugiardo'' (2007)

''La soluzione'' (2008)

''In Italia'' featuring Gianna Nannini (2008)

''Incomprensioni'' featuring Federico Zampaglione (2009)

''Speak English'' (2009)

''Festa Festa'' featuring Crookers & Dargen D'Amico (2010)

''Vip in Trip'' (2010)

''Tranne Te'' (2010)

''Qualcuno Normale'' featuring Marracash (2011)

''Le Donne'' (2011)

External links

Official website

Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:People from Senigallia Category:Italian rappers

de:Fabri Fibra es:Fabri fibra fr:Fabri Fibra it:Fabri Fibra lmo:Fabri Fibra pl:Fabri Fibra pt:Fabri Fibra tr:Fabri Fibra

Nicola (Antonio) Porpora (or Niccolò Porpora) (17 August 1686 3 March 1768) was an Italian composer of Baroque operas (see opera seria) and teacher of singing, whose most famous singing student was the castrato Farinelli. One of his other students was composer Matteo Capranica.

Biography

Porpora was born in Naples. He graduated from the music conservatory Poveri di Gesù Cristo of his native city, where the civic opera scene was dominated by Alessandro Scarlatti.

Porpora's first opera, ''Agrippina,'' was successfully performed at the Neapolitan court in 1708. His second, ''Berenice'', was performed at Rome. In a long career, he followed these up by many further operas, supported as ''maestro di cappella'' in the households of aristocratic patrons, such as the commander of military forces at Naples, prince Philip of Hesse-Darmstadt, or of the Portuguese ambassador at Rome, for composing operas alone did not yet make a viable career. However, his enduring fame rests chiefly upon his unequalled power of teaching singing. At the Neapolitan Conservatorio di Sant'Onofrio and with the Poveri di Gesù Cristo he trained Farinelli, Caffarelli, Salimbeni, and other celebrated vocalists, during the period 1715-1721. In 1720 and 1721 he wrote two serenades to librettos by a gifted young poet, Metastasio, the beginning of a long, though interrupted, collaboration. In 1722 his operatic successes encouraged him to lay down his conservatory commitments.

After a rebuff from the court of Charles VI at Vienna in 1725, Porpora settled mostly in Venice, composing and teaching regularly in the schools of La Pietà and the Incurabili. In 1729 the anti-Handel clique invited him to London to set up an opera company as a rival to Handel's, without success, and in the 1733-1734 season, even the presence of his pupil, the great Farinelli, failed to save the dramatic company in Lincoln's Inn Fields (the "Opera of the Nobility") from bankruptcy.

An interval as Kapellmeister at the Dresden court of the Elector of Saxony from 1748 ended in strained relations with his rival in Venice and Rome, the hugely successful opera composer Johann Adolph Hasse and his wife, the prima donna Faustina, and resulted in Porpora's departure in 1752. From Dresden he went to Vienna, where he gave music lessons to the young Joseph Haydn, who lived with Porpora as accompanist and in the character of a valet, but allowed later that he had learned from the maestro "the true fundamentals of composition". Then Porpora returned in 1759 to Naples.

From this time Porpora's career was a series of misfortunes: his florid style was becoming old-fashioned, his last opera, ''Camilla'', failed, his pension from Dresden stopped, and he became so poor that the expenses of his funeral were paid by a subscription concert. Yet at the moment of his death Farinelli and Caffarelli were living in splendid retirement on fortunes largely based on the excellence of the old maestro's teaching.

A good linguist, who was admired for the idiomatic fluency of his recitatives, and a man of considerable literary culture, Porpora was also celebrated for his conversational wit. He was well-read in Latin and Italian literature, wrote poetry and spoke French, German and English.

Besides some four dozen operas, there are oratorios, solo cantatas with keyboard accompaniment, motets and vocal serenades. Among his larger works, his 1720 opera ''Orlando'', one mass, his Venetian Vespers, and the opera ''Arianna in Nasso'' (1733 according to HOASM) have been recorded .

Works

Vocal music

Operas

:See List of operas by Porpora.

Oratorios

''Davide e Bersabea'' (Rolli; London 1734)

''Gedeone'' (anon.; Vienna 1737)

Cantatas

12 cantatas for solo voice and continuo dedicated to Frederic, Prince of Wales (London, 1735) :I. ''D'amore il primo dardo'' :II. ''Nel mio sonno almen (Il sogno)'' :III. ''Tirsi chiamare a nome'' :IV. ''Queste che miri O Nice'' :V. ''Scrivo in te l'amato nome (Il nome)'' :VI. ''Già la notte s'avvicina (La pesca)'' :VII. ''Veggo la selva e il monte'' :VIII. ''Or che una nube ingrata'' :IX. ''Destatevi destatevi 0 pastori'' :X. ''Oh se fosse il mio core'' :XI. ''Oh Dio che non è vero'' :XII. ''Dal pover mio core''

Instrumental music

6 Sinfonie da camera op.2 (London 1736)

12 Sonatas for violin and bass op.12

12 Triosonatas for 2 violins and bass (Vienna 1754)

Sonatas for cello and Bass

Concerto for cello and strings

References

External links

Porpora biography and discography

The Porpora Project: a fuller biography

Category:1686 births Category:1768 deaths Category:People from Naples Category:Baroque composers Category:Opera composers Category:Italian composers Category:Neapolitan school composers Category:Voice teachers

ca:Nicola Porpora cs:Nicola Porpora de:Nicola Antonio Porpora es:Nicola Porpora eo:Nicola Porpora fr:Nicola Porpora it:Nicola Porpora he:ניקולא פורפורה hu:Nicola Porpora nl:Nicola Porpora ja:ニコラ・ポルポラ no:Nicola Porpora oc:Nicola Porpora pl:Nicola Porpora pt:Nicola Porpora ru:Порпора, Никола sk:Nicola Porpora sl:Nicola Porpora uk:Нікола Порпора

250px|rightPhilippe Jaroussky (born 13 February 1978 in Maisons-Laffitte, France) is a French sopranist countertenor. He began his musical career with the violin, winning an award at the Versailles conservatory and then took up the piano before turning to singing. He is noted for a virtuosic coloratura technique and for compelling and enlivened interpretations of baroque cantatas and operas.

Jaroussky was inspired to sing by the Martinique-born countertenor Fabrice di Falco. He received his diploma from the Early Music Faculty of the Conservatoire de Paris. Since 1996, he has studied singing with Nicole Fallien. He has formed his own ensemble called Artaserse, and also often performs with the Ensemble Matheus under Jean-Christophe Spinosi and with L'Arpeggiata under Christina Pluhar.

Reception and awards

According to La Terrasse, "this young singer with the tone of an angel and the virtuosity of the devil has come into the limelight in only a few years as the great new French vocal talent." He received the 2007 best French lyrical artist award. Jaroussky was awarded "The Best Singer of the Year" at the Echo Classic Awards, 2008.

Discography

Alessandro Scarlatti: ''Sedecia, Re di Gerusalemme''. Lesne, Pochon, Harvey, Padmore. Il Seminario Musicale, Gérard Lesne. Virgin Veritas (rec. November 1999, École Sainte-Geneviève, Versailles, France)

Claudio Monteverdi: ''L'incoronazione di Poppea''. Laurens, Oliver, Schofrin, Oro. Ensemble Elyma, Gabriel Garrido. K617 (rec. July/August 2000, Chiesa San Martino, Erice, Italy)

Pierre Menault: ''Vêpres pour le Pére la Chaize''. Greuillet, Janssens, Lombard, van Dyck. Ensemble La Fenice, Jean Tubéry. K617 (rec. April 2001, chiesa Saint-Lazare, Avallon, France)

Giovanni Battista Bassani: ''La morte delusa''. Galli, del Monaco, Piolino, Sarragosse. Ensemble La Fenice, Jean Tubéry. Opus 111 (rec. August 2001, Delft, Nederland)

Antonio Vivaldi: ''Catone in Utica''. Edwards, Laszczkowski, Cangemi, Faraon. La Grande Écurie, Jean-Claude Malgoire. Dynamic (rec. November 2001, Théâtre Municipal, Tourcoing, France)

Antonio Vivaldi: ''La Verità in cimento''. Rolfe-Johnson, Stutzmann, Laurens, Mingardo. Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi. Naïve – Opus 111 (rec. September 2002, Eglise de Daoulas, Bretagne, France)

Solo recital: Benedetto Ferrari: ''Musiche varie''. Ensemble Artaserse. Ambroisie (rec. October/December 2002, Chapelle Jésus-Enfant – Paroisse Ste. Clothilde, Paris, France)

George Frideric Handel: ''Agrippina''. Gens, Perruche, Smith, Grégoire, di Falco. La Grande Écurie, Jean-Claude Malgoire. Dynamic (rec. March 2003, Théâtre Municipal, Tourcoing, France)

Solo recital: ''Un concert pour Mazarin''. Ensemble La Fenice, Jean Tubéry. Virgin Classics, 2004 (rec. June 2003, Abbaye de Saint-Michel, Thiérache, France)

Claudio Monteverdi: ''Selva morale e spirituale''. Spiritualità e liturgia / I salmi vespertini / Vespro dei Martiri / L'eloquenza divina. Ensemble Elyma, Gabriel Garrido. Ambronay Edition (rec. 2003/2004, Festival d'Ambronay, France)

Antonio Vivaldi: ''Orlando furioso''. Larmore, Lemieux, Cangemi. Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi. Naïve – Opus 111 (rec. June 2004, Eglise de Daoulas, Bretagne, France)

Claudio Monteverdi: ''L'Orfeo''. van Rensburg, Gerstenhaber, Thébault, Gerstenhaber, Gillot, Kaïque. La Grande Écurie, Jean-Claude Malgoire. Dynamic (rec. October 2004, Théâtre Municipal, Tourcoing, France)

Solo recital: Antonio Vivaldi: ''Virtuoso cantatas''. Ensemble Artaserse. Virgin Veritas (rec. October 2004, Chapelle des sœurs auxiliaires, Versailles, France)

Antonio Vivaldi: ''Griselda''. Lemieux, Cangemi, Kermes, Ferrari, Davies. Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi. Naïve – Opus 111 (rec. November 2005, Salle Surcouf, Foyer du Marin, Brest, France)

Solo recital: ''Beata Vergine'', Motets à la Vierge entre Rome et Venise, Grandi, Legrenzi, Cavalli, Antonio Rigatti, Giovanni Paolo Caprioli, Frescobaldi, Sances, Ensemble Artaserse. Virgin Classics (rec. December 2005, Eglise Notre-Dame du Liban, Parigi, France)

Solo recital: ''Vivaldi Heroes''. Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi. Virgin Classics (rec. October 2006, Auditorium de l'Ecole Nationale de Musique, Brest, France)

Solo recital: ''Carestini, the story of a castrato''. Le Concert d'Astrée, Emmanuelle Haïm. Virgin Classics, 2007

J. S. Bach: ''Magnificat'' – G. F. Handel: ''Dixit Dominus''. Dessay, Deshayes, Spence, Naouri. Le Concert d'Astrée, Emmanuelle Haïm. Virgin Classics, 2007

Antonio Vivaldi: ''Nisi Dominus and Stabat Mater''. Philippe Jaroussky, Lemieux. Ensemble Matheus, Jean-Christophe Spinosi. Naïve (rec. July 2007, Salle Surcouf, Brest (France))

Solo recital: ''Opium – Mélodies françaises''. Philippe Jaroussky, Jerôme Ducros. Virgin Classics, 2009. – songs by Debussy, Hahn, Fauré, César Franck, Massenet, Ernest Chausson, André Caplet, Saint-Saëns, Paul Dukas, Guillaume Lekeu, Cécile Chaminade, Gabriel Dupont, Vincent d'Indy.

''Via Crucis''. Claudio Monteverdi, Benedetto Ferrari, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Giovanni Legrenzi, Luigi Rossi, Tarquinio Merula, L'Arpeggiata, dir. Christina Pluhar, Philippe Jaroussky, Nuria Rial, Enzo Gragnaniello, Barbara Furtuna. Jean-Philippe Guissani, Giovanni Antonio, Pandolfi Mealli, Roccu Mambrini, Toni Casalonga, Nando Acquaviva, Lorenzo Allegri, Virgin Classics, 2010.

Solo recital: J. C. Bach Opera arias. Le Cercle de l'Harmonie, dir. Jérémie Rhorer Virgin. – awarded the Diapason d’Or de l’Année 2010 in France.

Solo recital: ''Caldara in Vienna'' (Forgotten Castrato Arias) Philippe Jaroussky / Concerto Köln, Emmanuelle Haïm

Vivaldi Ercole sul Termodonte Diana Damrau, Vivica Genaux, Romina Basso, Patrizia Ciofi, Joyce DiDonato, Rolando Villazon, Philippe Jaroussky, Topi Lehtipuu, dir. Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante, Virgin Classics. 2011

References

External links

Concerts Parisiens

Philippe Jaroussky International Forum

Performance of aria "Vedrò con mio diletto" (Vivaldi, "Il Giustino") on YouTube

Philippe Jaroussky recordings on Virgin Classics

Philippe Jaroussky videos on MaleSopranos.com

New York Times Sunday Magazine profile

Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:French male singers Category:French opera singers Category:Operatic countertenors Category:French people of Russian descent

bg:Филип Жаруски cs:Philippe Jaroussky de:Philippe Jaroussky es:Philippe Jaroussky fr:Philippe Jaroussky gl:Philippe Jaroussky hy:Ֆիլիպ Ժարուսկի it:Philippe Jaroussky ja:フィリップ・ジャルスキー pl:Philippe Jaroussky pt:Philippe Jaroussky ru:Жаруски, Филипп sv:Philippe Jaroussky