countertenor
See also: counter-tenor and counter tenor
English
[edit]
Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Latin contrātenor. By surface analysis, counter- + tenor.
Pronunciation
[edit]Noun
[edit]countertenor (plural countertenors)
- 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.
- 2014 August 8, Rupert Christiansen, “The truth about falsettos [print version: 12 August 2014, p. R8]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review)[1]:
- 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.
- (historical) A part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part.
Coordinate terms
[edit]- (voice types): soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)
Related terms
[edit]Translations
[edit]adult male singer
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singing voice
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a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Categories:
- English terms borrowed from Latin
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms prefixed with counter-
- English terms with audio pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with quotations
- English terms with historical senses
- en:Musical voices and registers
- en:Musicians
- en:People