A singer or musician who sings or plays in the alto register or range, which is higher than tenor but lower than soprano.
From 'alto' (Italian, from Latin 'altus,' high) plus the agent suffix '-ist' (one who performs or specializes in). This term became standard in English musical terminology in the 19th-20th centuries.
Alto singers often get overlooked compared to sopranos and tenors, but they have a special role in choral music—they're the bridge between high and low voices, and their warm, rich tones are crucial for harmony.
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