Fach

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Fach (Ger.: ‘Compartment, division’). zweifach, twofold, dreifach, threefold, etc. Most commonly used to indicate a division of, e.g., the first vns. of an orch., but there is an org. application indicating the no. of ranks in a mixture stop. In an operatic context it denotes the classification of parts—the ‘voice-category’—for all opera roles in Ger. opera houses. Whereas Cherubino is regarded as sop. role in Fach system, it is mez. in Italy and elsewhere.

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