sopranon.adj.
/səʊˈprɑːnəʊ/ Music.
1.
a. The highest singing voice in women and boys, having a compass from about middle C to two octaves above it; the quality or range of this voice.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [noun] > soprano or treble
treble?c1475
soprano1730
1730 [see sense 3a].
1774 ‘J. Collier’ Musical Trav. 30 He could not only sing base and treble,..and soprano to admiration; but also squeak like a pig.
1854 Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 132 It is not yet clearly understood what is the cause of the different qualities of voice, as exhibited in the tenor and bass, and the contralto and soprano.
1899 E. E. Hale J. R. Lowell vi. 76 Then a clear soprano or tenor would be heard.
b. A part for or sung by such a voice. Also figurative.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > types of song > [noun] > part-song > a part in > soprano
treblec1330
descant1563
soprano1786
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music Soprano, the treble or higher voice part, or parts.
1848 ‘G. Eliot’ Let. 8 Mar. (1954) I. 253 I should have written a soprano to your Jubilate.
2. A singer having a soprano voice; one who sings the soprano part.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > singer > singer by type of voice > [noun] > soprano
soprano1738
sopranist1864
coloratura1895
1738 Ld. Chesterfield in Misc. Wks. (1777) I. 81 Sopranos being the objects of the attention, and raptures of the ladies.
1818 Ld. Byron Beppo xxxi. 16 Soprano, basso, even the contra-alto, Wished him five fathom under the Rialto.
1834 W. Beckford Italy; with Sketches Spain & Portugal II. 31 Little madam whisks about the Botanic Garden with..a troop of sopranos.
1883 G. Grove Dict. Music III. 635 Many mezzo-soprani can sing higher notes than many soprani.
1892 E. Reeves Homeward Bound 187 He..is a dark-haired, stout, youthful-looking male soprano.
3. attributive or as adj.
a. Of persons: Having a soprano voice; singing a soprano part.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [adjective] > relating to soprano > having soprano voice
treble-voiced1552
soprano1730
1730 Owen Swiny in G. Colman Posthumous Lett. (1820) 25 We must provide a Soprano Man and a Contrealt Woman.
1854 Orr's Circle Sci.: Org. Nature I. 132 The contralto not unfrequently sings the high notes like soprano singers.
1873 H. C. Banister Music 217 Solo Tenor and Soprano singers will exceed the altitude here specified.
b. transferred. Of certain musical instruments, as soprano cornet, soprano trombone; soprano saxophone n. the second highest member of the saxophone family, usually pitched in B flat. abbrev. soprano sax n.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > [adjective] > by quality of sound
softa1525
lofty1598
vocal1649
alto1802
contrabass1834
soprano1856
baritone1876
monophonous1878
tinny1904
sopranino1907
plinky1926
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > woodwind instruments > [noun] > reed instrument > saxophone > types of
baritone1685
alto saxophone1856
soprano saxophone1856
tenor saxophone1865
soprano1876
tenor1876
alto sax1909
alto1921
baritone horn1949
soprano sax1971
1856 M. C. Clarke tr. H. Berlioz Treat. Mod. Instrumentation 151 The Soprano Trombone..exists still in some parts of Germany.
1859 C. Mandel Treat. Instrumentation Mil. Bands 18 The Saxophone. This instrument is made in various keys, viz.:– 1. The B flat soprano-saxophone.
1961 J. A. MacGillivray in A. C. Baines Musical Instruments through Ages x. 261 The Tarogato is a Hungarian instrument resembling a soprano saxophone of wood.
1971 Guardian 28 Sept. 10/6 The music is for..flute, trumpet, soprano sax, two basses, and percussion.
4. Of or belonging to the soprano. soprano clef n. the C-clef upon the first line of the treble stave.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > written or printed music > notation > [noun] > clefs
clef1579
B clef1597
G1597
G clef1725
soprano clef1786
treble clef1786
tenor clef1806
violin clef1876
alto clef1879
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > singing voice > [adjective] > relating to soprano
soprano1833
1786 T. Busby Compl. Dict. Music Introd. p. xxiii The Soprano-cliff is used for the second class of the higher species of voice.
1833 N. Wiseman in W. Ward Life Cardinal Wiseman I. v Possessing a strong soprano voice up to A, and sometimes C.
1845 E. Holmes Life Mozart 166 The soprano solo was doubtless intended for the Weber.
1883 G. Grove Dict. Music III. 635 That part of the scale upon which even a limited soprano part is written.
1883 Harper's Mag. Mar. 551/1 The far-off soprano strains..become triumphant.
5. elliptical. = soprano saxophone n. at sense 3b above.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > wind instrument > woodwind instruments > [noun] > reed instrument > saxophone > types of
baritone1685
alto saxophone1856
soprano saxophone1856
tenor saxophone1865
soprano1876
tenor1876
alto sax1909
alto1921
baritone horn1949
soprano sax1971
1876 J. Stainer & W. A. Barrett Dict. Musical Terms 385/2 at Saxophones Brass wind instruments, the invention of M. Sax... They are six in number, the high, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass.
1934 S. R. Nelson All about Jazz ii. 57 The other saxophones in common use in the band are the tenor, baritone, soprano and bass.
1967 Sat. Rev. (U.S.) 15 Apr. 55/2 Bechet, adjusting the reed of his soprano, looked at him.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1913; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1730