altissimo

American  

[al-tis-uh-moh, ahl-tees-see-maw] / ælˈtɪs əˌmoʊ, ɑlˈtis siˌmɔ /

adjective

1. very high.

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noun

1. in altissimo, in the second octave above the treble staff.

altissimo British  

/ ælˈtɪsɪˌməʊ /

adjective

1. (of music) very high in pitch

2. of or relating to the octave commencing on the G lying an octave above the treble clef

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noun

1. in the octave commencing an octave above the treble clef

Etymology

Origin of altissimo

1810–20; < Italian: literally, highest, equivalent to alt ( o ) high + -issimo superlative suffix

Example Sentences

Ms. Aldana has a dry but limpid sound on tenor and an expressive command that stretches into an altissimo register.

From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2016

There were free-improvised solos, altissimo saxophone squeals and loud, surging sections, but nothing became chaotic; a sense of space and order subsumed everything else.

From New York Times • May 22, 2013

Later in his Magic Flute, Mozart wrote for the Queen of Night�one of the most difficult coloratura soprano roles sung today�nothing higher than F in alt, or three and one-half tones below C in altissimo.

From Time Magazine Archive

After her accidental discovery of C in altissimo, Soprano Sack perfected her coloratura.

From Time Magazine Archive

Its compass was from G to E in altissimo, which she ran with the greatest ease and force, the tones being at once powerful and sweet.

From Famous Singers of To-day and Yesterday by Lahee, Henry C.