countertenor
High male voice
A countertenor is a male singer with an exceptionally high vocal range, typically singing in the alto or mezzo-soprano register through trained use of falsetto or head voice.
The voice type appears frequently in early music and baroque opera, where such parts were originally written for castrati: The countertenor's voice soared above the choir.
The term also designates the vocal range itself.
Artificially elevated singing register
- head voiceUpper singing register
- castratoEmasculated male vocalist
- altoLower female voice
- vocal rangeSinger's pitch span
register · timbre · vibrato · chest voice · resonance · breath control · pitch · tessitura
Lowest female vocal range
- mezzo-sopranoMedium female singing voice
- sopranoHighest female voice range
- baritoneMid-range male voice
- bassDeep pitch or fish
Organized group of singers
- choristerMember of a choir
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- motetSacred polyphonic choral work
- madrigalUnaccompanied Renaissance choral composition
cantata · anthem · sacred music · oratorio · a cappella · mass · requiem · vespers
Operatic solo piece
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
- cadenzaExtended solo passage
libretto · oratorio · virtuoso · stage · conductor · score · prima donna · maestro
Composed vocal setting poetry
- liederArchaic word for songs
- recitalSolo musical performance
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
- melismaMulti-note syllable singing
legato · vocalise · concert · performance · interpretation · phrasing · expression · diction
Pre-1750 Western compositions
- harpsichordPlucked-string keyboard instrument
- continuoBaroque harmonic foundation
- ornamentationDecorative additions to something
- da capoMusical repeat instruction
falsetto
Artificially elevated singing register
- head voiceUpper singing register
- castratoEmasculated male vocalist
- altoLower female voice
vocal range · register · timbre · vibrato · chest voice · resonance · breath control · pitch · tessitura · passaggio
contralto
Lowest female vocal range
- mezzo-sopranoMedium female singing voice
- sopranoHighest female voice range
- baritoneMid-range male voice
bass · treble · alto · castrato · coloratura · dramatic · lyric
choir
Organized group of singers
- choristerMember of a choir
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- motetSacred polyphonic choral work
madrigal · cantata · anthem · sacred music · oratorio · a cappella · mass · requiem · vespers · chorale
aria
Operatic solo piece
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
- bel cantoElegant Italian vocal style
- coloraturaElaborate vocal ornamentation
cadenza · libretto · oratorio · virtuoso · stage · conductor · score · prima donna · maestro · overture
art song
Composed vocal setting poetry
melisma · legato · vocalise · concert · performance · interpretation · phrasing · expression · diction · musicianship
early music
Pre-1750 Western compositions
- harpsichordPlucked-string keyboard instrument
- continuoBaroque harmonic foundation
- ornamentationDecorative additions to something
- singingsoprano, lead vocals, vocalist, alto, backing vocals
- high-pitched soundssqueak, squeal, shriek, screech, shrill
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, alto, baritone
- vocalistssinger, vocalist, soloist, songstress, songster
- voice professionalsvoice coach, vocal coach, voice actor, voice teacher, speech coach
- operaopera, aria, arias, soprano, baritone
countertenorbass
Deep pitch or fish
bass-baritone · baritone · contrabass · low-pitched · deep voice