Gourt > Arts > Music > History > Castrati
A castrato is a male soprano, mezzo-soprano, or alto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity. Therefore, their voices never deepen.
Castration before puberty (or in its early stages) prevents the boy's larynx from being fully transformed by the normal physiological effects of puberty. As a result, the vocal range of prepubescence (shared by boys and girls) is largely retained, and the voice develops into adulthood in a unique way. As the castrato's body grows (especially in lung capacity and muscular strength), and as his musical training and maturity increase, his voice develops a range, power and flexibility quite different from the singing voice of the adult female, but also markedly different from the higher vocal ranges of the uncastrated adult male (see soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, sopranista and contralto).
Oftentimes, the term "Castrato" was used to define the high register created by the young men who sang the Castrato style. The typical register of a Castrato was above that of a "normal" soprano voice, resulting in the creation of a temporary range in Italian music which was regarded as above or superior to traditional soprano.
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Q:Você é castrati? A:Se eu fosse não estaria comendo sua mãe, é meio óbvi... http://formspring.me/edsonhitoshi/q/2110277 #formspringme
edsontoshi (Edson Taniguchi) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:55:37 -0000
Q:Você é castrati? A:Se eu fosse não estaria comendo sua mãe, é meio óbvi... http://formspring.me/edsonhitoshi/q/2110277 #formspringme
@alaxandar do you dream about being in a castrati opera? It's not too late. I know a surgeon.
joshNoble (joshNoble) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:23:06 -0000
@alaxandar do you dream about being in a castrati opera? It's not too late. I know a surgeon.
just bought an album of really exciting, albeit superfluous, Baroque castrati arias. This is what happens when i have itunes money.
alaxandar (Alex Ring) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:21:28 -0000
just bought an album of really exciting, albeit superfluous, Baroque castrati arias. This is what happens when i have itunes money.
@McGuireAustin took a minute, i had to look up the word! and yes, u are right, eunuhs they are! i'd call them "castrati"
JessiBradshaw (Jessica Bradshaw) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:30:08 -0000
@McGuireAustin took a minute, i had to look up the word! and yes, u are right, eunuhs they are! i'd call them "castrati"
Actually, strike that, this just in: Paul_Partisan is a castrati. ROFL
lgb1987 (Lynn Blair) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:19:52 -0000
Actually, strike that, this just in: Paul_Partisan is a castrati. ROFL
Castrati- once a common practice in Europe to castrate young boys with exceptional singing voices to prevent the pubertal change in voice
DrewMacVittie (Drew MacVittie) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:52:42 -0000
Castrati- once a common practice in Europe to castrate young boys with exceptional singing voices to prevent the pubertal change in voice
All You Would Want To Know About the Castrati - Includes FAQ, pictures and biographies, bibliography, and links.
Angelo Manzotti - Sopranist, singing the historic repertoire of castrati: includes pictures, discography, performance schedule.
Meta Description: [ Angelo Manzotti's Official Homepage: the new Farinelli. ]
Castrati and Countertenors - Chat and forums for people who love the high male voice.
Meta Description: [ castratiandcountertenors: castrati and countertenors - A place for modern Castrati, Countertenors + fans ]
The Male Soprano Page - Information and discography on modern singers reviving the lost art of the castrati; includes bibliography, biographies for current and past adult male sopranos.
Urological Sciences Research Foundation: Castrati Singers of Italy - Article about the use of castrated male singers for singing alto in church choirs during 17th and 18th century Italy. RealAudio sample from Allessandro Moreschi. The life story of Carlo Broschi, known as Farinelli.
Meta Description: [ USRF - A fascinating insight into the use of castrated male singers for singing alto in church choirs during 17th and 18th century Italy. ]
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