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

See Examples For:

altissimo

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

The great merits of her voice lie in her staccato effects, chromatic runs,—which she gives with great purity,—and notes in altissimo.

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

A young lady who forces her voice into altissimo, and a young gentleman who forces his mind into a receptacle for a chaos of crudities, are pretty much on a par.

From Gryll Grange by Peacock, Thomas Love