Quintus

As Printed on a Score

Printed as the label of the fifth part in five-voice Renaissance part-books and in modern editions of such works; its range depends on the piece, so the label alone does not say which voice type sings it.

How Composers Use It

The quintus doubles one of the standard ranges — often a second tenor or a second cantus — so in editions assign it a modern voice type according to its range. In your own five-part writing, a second voice in the same range opens up crossing and exchange between the two.

Related Terms