HighC is a term with two primary established meanings: one in the domain of music software, and another in vocal music notation.
1. HighC (Software)
HighC is a graphical musical composition tool inspired by the UPIC system developed by Iannis Xenakis. It was created by Thomas Baudel and developed between 1991 and 2015. First released commercially in 2007, HighC allows users to compose music by drawing curves in the time and frequency domains, where each curve corresponds to a single sound or musical note. Unlike some image-to-sound tools, HighC uses a vector-based representation, meaning sounds remain individual objects that can be edited, transformed, and composed with each other.
The software has been used by contemporary composers such as George Hatzimichelakis and Dimitri Sykias, and has also been employed for educational purposes in music schools in Spain, France, and Greece. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and is available as a free download for simple entertainment and educational use, with a paid license (€29.99) unlocking the full feature set.
2. High C (Musical Note)
In vocal music, "High C" refers to a specific high-pitched note. Its exact definition depends on the voice type and the notational convention used:
- For tenors (male voices): High C is typically C5 (approximately 523 Hz), which is the C two octaves above middle C (C4) in scientific pitch notation. In operatic tradition, the ability to produce a full, resonant C5 in chest or chest-dominant mixed voice is considered a defining landmark for dramatic tenors.
- For sopranos (female voices): High C is typically C6 (approximately 1047 Hz), one octave above the tenor's High C.
The term is widely used in classical and contemporary vocal training, and the ability to sing a clear, controlled High C is often regarded as a benchmark of vocal proficiency, particularly for tenor voices.
