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basso cantante

[bas-oh kuh n-tahn-tee, -tey, bah-soh; Italian bahs-saw kahn-tahn-te]
noun, plural bas·si can·tan·ti [bas-ee kuh n-tahn-tee, bah-see; Italian bahs-see kahn-tahn-tee] /ˈbæs i kənˈtɑn ti, ˈbɑ si; Italian ˈbɑs si kɑnˈtɑn ti/. Music.
  1. a bass voice with an upper range that is more developed than that of the basso profundo.
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Origin of basso cantante

1875–80; < Italian: literally, singing bass
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for basso cantante

Historical Examples

  • The basso-cantante is a low barytone, or high bass with a lighter quality of tone than the basso-profondo.

    Advice to Singers

    Frederick James Crowest

  • I am well aware that by many musicians the basso-cantante is identified with the barytone.

    Advice to Singers

    Frederick James Crowest