Editing Alto (section)

{{Short description|Vocal and pitch range above tenor and below soprano}}
{{Other uses|Alto (disambiguation)}}
{{Voice type}}
The musical term '''alto''', meaning "high" in [[Wikt:alto#Italian|Italian]] ([[Latin]]: '''''[[Wikt:altus|altus]]'''''), historically refers to the [[counterpoint|contrapuntal]] [[Part (music)|part]] higher than the [[tenor]] and its associated [[vocal range]]. In [[SATB|four-part]] [[voice leading]] alto is the second-highest part, sung in [[choir|choruses]] by either low women's or high men's voices. In [[voice type|vocal classification]] these are usually called [[contralto]] and male alto or [[countertenor]].