Voices below altos NYT

The crossword clue "Voices below altos" with the answer "TENORS" refers to the musical hierarchy of vocal ranges. In choral and vocal music, voices are typically categorized into different ranges, with "alto" being one of the higher male or female vocal ranges.

The tenor range sits below the alto range in terms of pitch. Therefore, "tenors" are voices that are lower than altos, making them the appropriate answer for this clue. This clue relies on the understanding of vocal range classifications, where tenors are positioned lower than altos in the standard vocal spectrum.

The crossword clue "Voices below altos" with the answer "BASSES" refers to the musical term used to describe a vocal range. In choral and vocal music, the term "alto" denotes a high female or a low male voice, typically the second highest range in the choir.

Below the alto range is the bass range, which encompasses the lowest vocal tones. Thus, "basses" are the voices that fall below altos in terms of pitch. The clue is a play on musical hierarchy, where "voices below altos" logically leads to "basses," representing the lowest voices in a choral setting.

The crossword clue "Voices below altos" with the answer "BARITONES" refers to the vocal range that lies between the tenor and bass voices. In choral and vocal music, altos are the female voices that sing in a range above the tenor but below the soprano.

Baritones are male voices that fall between the tenor and bass ranges, and they typically sing in a lower range than altos but higher than basses. Therefore, "baritones" fits the clue as they are a category of voices that fall below the altos in pitch. The term "baritone" describes these mid-range voices, making them the correct answer to the clue.

The crossword clue "Voices below altos" with the answer "COUNTERTENORS" refers to a specific vocal range that is actually higher, not lower, than altos. In classical and choral music, countertenors are male singers who perform in the alto range or even higher, using a falsetto or a specially trained head voice.

They are known for their ability to sing in a range that typically overlaps with or surpasses that of female altos. Thus, while countertenors are not below altos in pitch but rather above or on the same level, they are included in this context because they perform in a similar vocal range. The clue might be playing with the expectation of vocal ranges and providing a term that challenges conventional hierarchical thinking.