superius

vocal music

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July 14, 2026

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The term "superius" refers to the highest vocal part in medieval music, also known as the treble voice. This part is equivalent to the modern soprano range.12

In the context of 13th to 16th-century polyphonic music, the tenor voice traditionally held the main melody, or cantus firmus. The superius was the line above it, and a third voice, the contratenor, was also present. As music evolved to four parts, the contratenor split into alto and bass parts, and the tenor came to denote the voice range between alto and bass.2

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tenor
…line above was known as superius (the modern soprano), and the third added voice was contratenor. In the mid-15th century, writing in four parts became common, and the contratenor part gave rise to the contratenor altus (the modern alto) and contratenor bassus (the modern bass). The term tenor gradually lost…
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…line above was known as superius (the modern soprano), and the third added voice was contratenor. In the mid-15th century, writing in four parts became common, and the contratenor part gave rise to the contratenor altus (the modern alto) and contratenor bassus (the modern bass). The term tenor gradually lost…
Read More