tessitura

[ tes-i-toor-uh; Italian tes-see-too-rah ]

noun

, plural tes·si·tu·ras, tes·si·tu·re [tes-i-, toor, -ey, tes-see-, too, -, r, e].

1. the general pitch level or average range of a vocal or instrumental part in a musical composition:

   an uncomfortably high tessitura.

tessitura

/ ˌtɛsɪˈtʊərə /

noun

1. the general pitch level of a piece of vocal music

   an uncomfortably high tessitura

2. the compass or range of a voice

Word History and Origins

Origin of tessitura¹

1890–95; < Italian: literally, texture < Latin textūra; texture

Word History and Origins

Origin of tessitura¹

Italian: texture, from Latin textura; see texture

Example Sentences

This octave, however, represents merely the compass (ambitus or tessitura) of the melody: it has nothing to do with its tonality.

From Project Gutenberg

The tessitura of Butterfly is very high, and the rle is a strain for her.

From Project Gutenberg

One should never try to change the tessitura, or natural character of the voice.

From Project Gutenberg

The high tessitura of the music allotted to the Siegfried Brnnhilde is a strain for most singers.

From Project Gutenberg