Male alto
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Alto comes from the Latin root altus, which means "high." In musical terms, alto means the second- or third-highest pitch. Alto in a chorus or choir refers to the third highest pitch, below soprano and mezzo-soprano. A "male alto" is a man (or boy) capable of singing the alto line in a chorus or choir.
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[edit] Definition
A male alto is a man able to sing at the alto range. This ability is often seen in younger boys. One factor that separates male altos from the rest of a male chorus is that the singing does not use a male's falsetto; rather it is the male's natural voice. The quality of the voice sounds like that of an alto singer, which gives this section its name. In most cases, male alto voices eventually crack and become tenor, baritone, bass-baritone, or bass voices. Some men, on the other hand, have permanent alto voices. These older male singers are called countertenors.
[edit] Range
The alto range in choral music is usually from the notes G3 to F5. However, this broad range can be broadened even more, depending upon the singer's voice. For example, a male that is going through a voice change can request lower notes in a piece because of his voice's condtition. A male can also request higher notes if he has a higher voice range.
[edit] Qualifications and guidelines
Male altos are commonly seen throughout childhood until the age of sixteen or so. At that age, either a voice change occurs, the males become countertenors until their voice cracks, or they permanently become countertenors. Regardless of whether or not their voice is changing, male altos must be dedicated and able to sing the alto line throughout all pieces of music without straining. In some cases the alto line will be split; male altos should then sing the lower staff. If male altos are asked to sing classical music they should sing the countertenor staff.
