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Vocal ranges

Female ranges Soprano Mezzo-soprano Contralto Male ranges Sopranist Alto Tenor Baritenor Baritone Bass-baritone Bass

A baritenor is a male voice whose tessitura lies between the baritone and the tenor. The word is frequently used to describe one of the most common male musical vocal types, a baritone with an upward extension into tenor territority (but with a baritonal quality.)

In classical music, the term may be used to describe male vocal students who have not determined into which voice type they will mature. It is rarely used to describe an adult voice, as baritones can have an extension. A baritenor is closest in tessitura to the heldentenor, a special tenor having a thick-baritone lower register. The baritenor's voice is more lyrical in quality, and usually cannot pitch as high. A baritenor's range is usually B2 to A4.

The French designation for a light, flexible baritone between the baritone and the tenor range is baryton-martin, after the singer Jean-Blaise Martin (1768-1837). Examples of roles written for this rare voice type include Pelléas in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande and Ramiro in Ravel's L'Heure espagnole. Pierre Bernac, Jacques Jansen and Camille Maurane were famous barytons-martin.

Occasionally in soul music, like the mezzo-soprano, a baritenor is a person of full voice, capable of singing both baritone and tenor. This classification is not as widely used as mezzo-soprano however.

Famous Baritenors

Popular and Crossover Music

Michael Ball
John Denver
Raul Esparza
Karel Gott
Josh Groban
Florent Pagny
Steve Hogarth
John Raitt
Stevie Wonder
Wayne Brady
Gordon Lightfoot
Billie Joe Armstrong

It is a common misconception that voices are classified by vocal range when it is vocal timbre or quality that is the major discriminating factor. A contrived quality or timbre, rather than the sound related to the individuals natural quality, can lead to frequent mis-classification or extraordinary sub-groups. The Bayton-Martin and Baritenor are the best examples of contrived, rather than natural intonation. The manipulation of the upper register in order to achieve a wider vocal range, leads to vowel distortion that clashes with the harmonics of a voice free of the need for such physical distortion.

Baritenor roles in Musicals and Operettas

Marius (Les Misérables)
Enjolras (Les Misérables)
Chris (Miss Saigon)
Charles Guiteau (Assassins)
Roger DeBris (The Producers)
Leo Bloom (The Producers)
Caractacus Potts (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)
Mark (Rent)
Tom Collins (Rent)) (Must have a stronger middle and lower register than higher.)