Lyric
Lyric is the most common fach and is found throughout all voices (soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, bass). The lyric voice is characterized by it’s lightness and smaller output, but most of all warmth. The lyric voice is also the brightest. Having a ‘small’ output and ‘lightness’ does not mean lyric voices are tiny. They are simply the smallest voices, not necessarily small voices. Lyric voices can be very powerful and resonant (eg. Mariah Carey). The lighter weight of the voice lends itself to melisma/runs/riffs. This skill does need to be developed, but naturally the lyric voice is well suited towards them. Unfortunately, as the lightest voices, lyrics are the most prone to damage if misused. The thinner folds cannot withstand as much damage as a spinto or dramatic. The warmth of the timbre makes the voice less harsh and intense as some other fachs (dramatic). The lyric voice can range from very bright (Tori Kelly, Michael Buble), to a darker sound (Nicole Scherzinger, John Legend). For sopranos and tenors the lyric fach is broken down into light-lyric and full-lyric. Lyric fachs include:
Lyric Coloratura Soprano
Light-Lyric Soprano
Full-Lyric Soprano
Lyric Mezzo-Soprano
Lyric Contralto
Light-Lyric Tenor
Full-Lyric Tenor
Lyric Baritone
Lyric Bass