what is tenor in music

A tenor in music refers to the voice type as well as its vocal pitch range. It is the highest male voice type in a typical choir, positioned between the lower baritone voice and the higher countertenor. The typical tenor vocal range is C3–B4, which is the smallest range among male voice types. The name "tenor" comes from the Latin word "tenere," which means "to hold". In polyphony between about 1250 and 1500, the tenor was the structurally fundamental (or holding) voice, vocal or instrumental; by the 15th century, it came to signify the male voice that sang such parts. In choral music, the requirements of the tenor voice are tied to the style of music most often performed by a given choir. Orchestral choruses typically call for tenors with fully resonant voices, but chamber or a cappella choral music can rely on baritones singing in falsetto. In popular music such as pop and rock, the main vocalists of many bands are categorized as tenors. Some well-known tenors in classical music and opera include Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, and Plácido Domingo, while famous male singers with a vocal range of tenor include Freddie Mercury of Queen, Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, Bono from U2, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, and Michael Jackson.