basso cantante

[ bas-oh kuhn-tahn-tee, -tey, bah-soh; Italian bahs-saw kahn-tahn-te ]

noun

, Music.

, plural bas·si can·tan·ti [bas, -ee k, uh, n-, tahn, -tee, bah, -see, bahs, -see kahn-, tahn, -tee].

1. a bass voice with an upper range that is more developed than that of the basso profundo.

Word History and Origins

Origin of basso cantante¹

1875–80; < Italian: literally, singing bass

Example Sentences

Alfred Giraudet joined the grand opera as primo basso cantante.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg