A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below middle C to the G above middle C (i.e. B2 to G4) in choral music, and from the second B flat below middle C to the C above middle C (B♭2 to C5) in operatic music, but the range can extend at either end. Subtypes of tenor include the leggero tenor, lyric tenor, spinto tenor, dramatic tenor, heldentenor, and tenor buffo or spieltenor.
In addition to singing, the term "tenor" can also refer to a musical instrument that has the same range of notes as the tenor singing voice, such as the tenor saxophone.
Outside of music, the term "tenor" can refer to the drift or purport of something spoken or written, an exact copy of a writing, or the concept, object, or person meant in a metaphor.
In a typical choir, the tenor is the highest male voice type and has the smallest range, barely covering two octaves. Despite this fact, tenors are the most sought after choir singers for two major reasons. The first reason is that there arent as many men singing in choirs to begin with. The second reason is that most male voices, singers or not, are baritones. In opera, the primo uomo, or leading man, is most often a tenor.
