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The term "four-part harmony" refers to music written for four voices, or four musical instruments, or a keyboard instrument, or some other medium, where the various parts give a different note of each chord of the music. Typically, the first of the four parts will sing (or play) the melody, with the other three parts providing the supporting harmonies. It is unusual for any of the four parts to share the same pitch, although it happens at times. The four main voices are typically labelled as: soprano (or treble), alto (contralto or countertenor), tenor, and bass. Because most singers have a relatively limited range, the upper notes of the soprano or tenor part cannot be sung by a bass singer.〔 〕 Conversely, the lower notes of the bass part typically cannot be reached by a soprano voice, with some notes so low that alto and tenor voices cannot reach them either. Groups of just four people, singing as quartets, can perform in four-part harmony. ==Genres== * Barbershop quartets, originally from English-speaking North America, usually consist of four men or women who sing first tenor (called ''tenor''), second tenor (called ''lead''), baritone, and bass parts. A barbershop quartet typically sings with extra focus on emphasizing or exaggerating the harmonies in a piece of music, rather than singing in quiet supporting roles. The supporting voices can provide counter-melodies, close harmonies, or a walking bass to the melody line, which is sung in a middle voice. The harmonies are typically rooted in the chromatic aesthetics of early 20th-century popular music. * Cantu a tenore is a Sardinian style, traditionally sung by men, wherein the second highest voice sings the melody, which the other voices accompany with a chant using nonsense syllables. * The gospel quartet of the United States sings Christian material of a similar style to barbershop quartets, but may also include spirituals and traditional hymns. * A Croatian klapa consists of four male parts, sometimes doubled, with the melody sung freely by a middle voice. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Four-part harmony」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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