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Literary notes about Alto (AI summary)

The word "alto" appears to be remarkably versatile in literature, functioning both as an adjective denoting physical or metaphorical height and as a musical term signifying a particular vocal or instrumental register. In poetic works like Dante’s Divine Comedy, "alto" evokes images of elevated cities, lofty seats, or high paths, underscoring a sense of grandeur and transcendence ([1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]). Meanwhile, in musical and technical contexts, "alto" refers to voice types or instrument ranges—from the counter-tenor to the alto trumpet—emphasizing auditory rather than spatial height ([7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]). In Spanish texts, the term is employed both to describe elevated physical positions and a commanding or distinct mode of expression ([13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18]). This rich semantic field highlights "alto" as a term that seamlessly spans the realms of poetry, music, and everyday description.
  1. In tutte parti impera e quivi regge; quivi e` la sua citta` e l'alto seggio:
    — from Divina Commedia di Dante: Inferno by Dante Alighieri
  2. Traemmoci cosi` da l'un de' canti, in loco aperto, luminoso e alto, si` che veder si potien tutti quanti.
    — from Divina Commedia di Dante: Inferno by Dante Alighieri
  3. Cosi` li dissi; e poi che mosso fue, intrai per lo cammino alto e silvestro.
    — from Divina Commedia di Dante: Inferno by Dante Alighieri
  4. O muse, o alto ingegno, or m'aiutate; o mente che scrivesti cio` ch'io vidi, qui si parra` la tua nobilitate.
    — from Divina Commedia di Dante: Inferno by Dante Alighieri
  5. Non e` sanza cagion l'andare al cupo: vuolsi ne l'alto, la` dove Michele fe' la vendetta del superbo strupo>>.
    — from Divina Commedia di Dante: Inferno by Dante Alighieri
  6. Giustizia mosse il mio alto fattore: fecemi la divina podestate, la somma sapienza e 'l primo amore.
    — from Divina Commedia di Dante: Inferno by Dante Alighieri
  7. The alto, or counter-tenor , is not a natural voice, but a development of the falsetto .
    — from The New Gresham Encyclopedia. A to Amide by Various
  8. Alto, in music, the highest singing voice of a male adult, the lowest of a boy or a woman, being in the latter the same as contralto .
    — from The New Gresham Encyclopedia. A to Amide by Various
  9. The Christmas Night 78-80 —Alto and Tenor.
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  10. In this manner the tenors sing in the soprano octave, the 1 st basses in the alto octave and the 2 nd basses are independent.
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  11. This example affords an instance of the rare use of the alto clef (in the last few notes).
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  12. 2. Alto trumpet (in F ).
    — from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
  13. Llegó mi turno y saqué el número más alto.
    — from A First Spanish Reader by Alfred Remy and Erwin W. Roessler
  14. 8 16 desde más alto : 'from a higher position.'
    — from Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós
  15. El inmenso cielo sin nubes parecía agrandarse más y alejarse de la tierra para 15 verla y en su contemplación recrearse desde más alto.
    — from Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós
  16. Él habla alto y distintamente.
    — from A First Spanish Reader by Alfred Remy and Erwin W. Roessler
  17. 14 26 en lo más alto : 'at the highest point.'
    — from Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós
  18. —Bueno, súbeme hasta lo alto de la escalera.
    — from Doña Perfecta by Benito Pérez Galdós

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