Dear Tako and List:
I found this web site which has two short sound clips (see
http://www.guitarfoundation.org/hezy.html). The singer refers to
himself as a "tenor altino" which I think is more or less the same as
a "haute-contre" - a natural high voice with an easy "gear change"
into a light production. As another example, I believe British tenor
Rogers Covey-Crump, heard on many recordings with the Hilliard
Ensemble and other groups, is a haute-contre.
As I believe Tako and others have pointed out, above a certain pitch
it is generally believed that all of the higher male voices
(countertenor, "alto", tenor-altino, haute-contre, sopranist) do the
same thing (that is, use a similar kind of vocal registration), so the
distinction is really what happens in somewhat lower pitch ranges. I
think that haute-contres sing through the passagio (say up to say G4 -
above middle C - or even higher for some) much as tenors, but then
instead of going into an "operatic" type head-voice they go into a
more counter-tenor like head-voice. Certain barbershop "tenors" fit
this description - I think particularly of Gene Cokeroft of the famous
Suntones - if I get a chance I'll post a short clip of Gene.
Cheers,
Michael Gordon
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