countertenor en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Latin contrātenor. By surface analysis, counter- + tenor.
Meanings
- An adult male singer who uses head tone or falsetto to sing far higher than the typical male vocal range.
-
A male singing voice far higher than the typical male vocal range.
The term countertenor first appeared in England during the mid 17th century. However, the style of singing originated in Elizabethan cathedral choirs, eventually falling out of favour during the Romantic period.
2014 August 8, Rupert Christiansen, “The truth about falsettos [print version: 12 August 2014, p. R8]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review):
- (historical) A part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| countertenors | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| counter-tenor | alternative | lexicographic | |
| counter tenor | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
bass (voice types) · contralto (voice types) · tenor (voice types) · mezzo-soprano (voice types) · baritone (voice types) · soprano (voice types)
Relateds
contratenor altus · contratenor bassus · contratenor
Translations (24)
ca contratenor (a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part) · hu kontratenor (singing voice) · ka კონტრტენორი (adult male singer) · es contratenor (adult male singer) · pt contratenor (adult male singer) · fi kontratenori (a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part) · ja カウンターテナー (a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part) · ca contratenor (adult male singer) · de Countertenor (a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part) · ka კონტრტენორი (singing voice) · ru контрте́нор (a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part) · es contratenor (singing voice) · de Countertenor (adult male singer) · fi kontratenori (adult male singer) · de Countertenor (singing voice) · pl kontratenor (adult male singer) · bg контратенор (adult male singer) · fr contreténor (adult male singer) · it contraltista (adult male singer) · fr contreténor (a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part) · cmn 假聲男高音 /假声男高音 (adult male singer) · cmn 假聲男高音 /假声男高音 (a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part) · pl kontratenor (singing voice) · cmn 高男高音 (adult male singer)