A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Baryton (voice)

by John Hullah

BARYTON (Ital. Baryton; Fr. Basse-Taille, Concordant). The male voice intermediate to the bass and the tenor. The compound βαρύοτονος signifies 'of heavy timbre,'—in this instance, in relation to the tenor. It is therefore a misnomer; for, however close their approximation in compass, the quality of what is now understood by the baryton voice unmistakeably marks it as a high bass, not a low tenor. The recognition of this important fact is manifest in the works of the majority of modern composers. One instance out of many will suffice. The principal part in Mendelssohn's oratorio 'Elijah' ranges from the C in the bass stave to the F above it, very rarely descending below the former note. Sung, as it might be with perfect—or too much—ease, by a low tenor, it would obviously lose all its dignity and breadth. Since the production of Mozart's 'Nozze di Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni' the baryton voice has found much favour with composers, and been cultivated with unprecedented success. Innumerable principal parts have been written for it; and not to speak of artists of this class still before the public, the names of Bartleman in England, of Ambrogetti in Italy, and of Martin in France, are historical. [ Bass ].

[ J. H. ]