Meaning of "countertenor" in the English dictionary

PRONUNCIATION OF COUNTERTENOR

countertenor  [ˌkaʊntəˈtɛnə]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF COUNTERTENOR

Countertenor is a noun.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES COUNTERTENOR MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Countertenor

A countertenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of the female contralto, mezzo-soprano or soprano voice types. The countertenor range is generally equivalent to an alto range, extending from around G3 to D5 or E5, although sopranists may match the soprano's range of around C4 to C6. The term first came into use in England during the mid 17th century, and was in wide use by the late 17th century. However, the use of adult male falsettos in polyphony, commonly in the alto range, was common in all-male sacred choirs for some decades previous, as early as the mid-16th century, and modern-day ensembles such as the Tallis Scholars and the Sixteen maintain the use of male altos in period works. During the Romantic period, the popularity of the countertenor voice waned and few compositions were written with that voice type in mind. In the second half of the 20th century, the countertenor voice went through a massive resurgence in popularity, partly due to pioneers such as Alfred Deller, by the increased popularity of Baroque opera and the need of male singers to replace the castrati roles in such works.

Definition of countertenor in the English dictionary

The definition of countertenor in the dictionary is an adult male voice with an alto range. Other definition of countertenor is a singer with such a voice.

TRANSLATION OF COUNTERTENOR

Find out the translation of countertenor to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of countertenor from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «countertenor» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 男高音
• Translator English - Spanish: contratenor
• English: countertenor
• Translator English - Hindi: countertenor
• Translator English - Arabic: countertenor
• Translator English - Russian: контртенором
• Translator English - Portuguese: contratenor
• Translator English - Bengali: countertenor
• Translator English - French: contre-ténor
• Translator English - Malay: Countertenor
• Translator English - German: Countertenor
• Translator English - Japanese: カウンターテナー
• Translator English - Korean: countertenor
• Translator English - Javanese: Countertenor
• Translator English - Vietnamese: countertenor
• Translator English - Tamil: countertenor
• Translator English - Marathi: प्रतिवादी
• Translator English - Turkish: kontrtenor
• Translator English - Italian: controtenore
• Translator English - Polish: kontratenor
• Translator English - Ukrainian: контртенор
• Translator English - Romanian: contratenor
• Translator English - Greek: κόντρα
• Translator English - Afrikaans: counter
• Translator English - Swedish: counter
• Translator English - Norwegian: kontratenor

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «COUNTERTENOR»

Discover the use of countertenor in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to countertenor and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

A basic countertenor method for teacher and student

Designed for both the teacher and student, this guide provides a complete review of techniques used in countertenor singing.

Peter Giles, 2005

Twentieth-Century Countertenor Repertoire: A Guide

This significant reference of over 600 entries compiles and catalogues information about repertoire composed specifically for the countertenor from 1950 to 2000.

Steven L. Rickards, 2008

Burning in Blueness The Dark-Light of a Countertenor

In his magnum opus The History and Technique of the Countertenor, Peter Giles expresses disagreement with James' views on the history of the voice as a solo instrument and his use of the word 'falsetto' to describe it. For Peter it is a wholly ...

Maxine Handy

Triple-Portrait of a Countertenor

They were as far from populist as it is possible to imagine' writes Peter Giles, countertenor and distinguished author, in his foreword to Howard's autobiographical memoir. Michael Howard worked on ringing consonants, especially the 'r', ...

Maxine Handy, 2010

Performance Practice: A Dictionary-guide for Musicians

The lower of these soon became simply a bassus, leaving the higher contratenor as the prototype for subsequent contratenor or countertenor parts. Tudor polyphony (l 6th c.) In Tudor polyphony the word "countertenor" appeared in scores as a ...

Roland John Jackson, 2005

The Babees book: Aristotle's A B C, Urbanitis, Stanspuer ad ...

The Maister of the Chilldren, a Count[er]-Teaor A Countertenor A Tenor A Countertenor A Basse Tewysday The Master o'tli Chilldren, a Countertenor A Countertenor A Tenor A Countertenor A Baisse TlIURSnAY The Master o'th Chilldren, ...

Frederick James Furnivall, 1868

The Boke of Nurture for Men Servants and Children

VDAY The Maister of the Chilldren, a Count[er]-Tenor A Countertenor A Tenor A Countertenor A Basse Tewvbday The Master o'th Chilldren, a Countertenor A Countertenor A Tenor A Countertenor A Baisse Thursday The Master o'th Chilldren, ...

Hugh Rhodes, Frederick James Furnivall, 1867

Manners and meals in olden time (ed. by F.J. Furnivall).

SoNDAY The Maister of the Chilldren, a Count[er]-Tenor A Countertenor A Tenor A Countertenor A Basse Tewysday The Master o'th Chilldren, a Countertenor A Countertenor A Tenor A Countertenor A Baisse Thursday The Master o'th ...

Manners, Frederick James Furnivall, 1867

The Boke of Nurture

SOSDAY The Maister of tho Chilldren, a Count[er]-Tenor A (countertenor A Tenor A Countertenor A Basse Tewstsday The Master o'th Chilldren, a Countertenor A Countertenor A Tenor A Countertenor A Baisse Thursday The Master o'th ...

John Russell, Wynkyn de Worde, Hugh Rhodes, 1867

Solutions for Singers : Tools for Performers and Teachers: ...

The countertenor role of Oberon in Britten's A Midsummer Night 's Dream (1960) was written with Deller in mind. The American countertenor Russell Oberlin sang that role in 1961. In 1951, Oberlin had joined Noah Greenberg's newly formed ...

Richard Miller Professor of Singing at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 2003

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «COUNTERTENOR»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term countertenor is used in the context of the following news items.

Houston Early Music announces 2015-2016 concert season

The trio will be joined by soprano Nell Snaidas, countertenor Jóse Lemos and percussionist Danny Mallon. The event is scheduled for 7:30 ... «Your Houston News, Jul 15»

Summer Festivities of Early Music starts July 13

The male part of the Cappella Mariana vocal ensemble in collaboration with countertenor Terry Wey will perform a program built around the ... «Prague Post, Jul 15»

The cast of Bajazet balances dramatic intensity with flamboyant …

American countertenor Christopher Lowrey was spectacular as Tamerlano. Secure and assured across his mellow, subtly coloured tessitura, ... «The Australian, Jul 15»

Opera Theater's Summerfest ranges from classics to world premiere

Summerfest's opening weekend includes a recital of Russian repertoire (July 12) by countertenor Andrey Nemzer, winner of the 2012 Mildred ... «Tribune-Review, Jul 15»

Granite State Choral Society names Daniel K. Roihl as music director

As a countertenor, Roihl has appeared as a soloist with numerous professional choirs throughout New England and Southern California, ... «Foster's Daily Democrat, Jul 15»

Music Niagara's 17th season opens with cello phenom

... a Mozart Double Bill, an evening of Baroque arias by countertenor Michael Taylor and a winery concert by CBC Radio host Julie Nesrallah. «Niagara Advance, Jul 15»

Concerts: Taylor Swift arrives as Music & Beyond, Bluesfest begin

Music & Beyond Festival: Love and Betrayal with soprano Dominique Labelle, countertenor Daniel Taylor, violinist Adrian Butterfield, music by ... «Ottawa Citizen, Jul 15»

Premiere of Richard III choral piece enchants cathedral's visitors

... of The King in the Car Park by Leicester Cathedral choristers, Loughborough Children's Choir, a countertenor soloist and musicians. «Leicester Mercury, Jul 15»

CLO Cabaret announces cast of 'Altar Boyz,' arriving in September

... The Rocky Horror Show, and at the Benedum as the first male countertenor to regionally play Miss Andrew in Pittsburgh CLO's Mary Poppins. «Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jul 15»

Peabody-Essex hosts 'Song Cycle' with Matthew Aucoin

Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo's lines resourcefully wove in and out of harmonic agreement with the accompaniment — but that ... «Boston Globe, Jun 15»