counter-ˈtenor Mus.
Also 5 cowntur-tenur, 6 counter tenouer, 7 conter tenor, 6–8 contra-tenor.
[ad. obs. F. contre-teneur, obs. It. contra-tenore: see counter- 12 and tenor.]
1. a. A part higher in pitch than the tenor, sung by a high male voice; the alto.
| 1388 [see b]. 1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W. 1506) v. iv. 393, I understande by..the counter tenouer [of the gloryous melodye of paradyse] the Ioye and the gladnes of the blessyd men and women of paradyse. 1594 T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 95 They make the voice..small, cleere, and shrill, like to the countertenor. 1631 R. Brathwait Whimzies, Char. Ballad-monger 19 Now he counterfeits a naturall base, then a perpetuall treble, and ends with a counter-tenure. 1706 A. Bedford Temple Mus. ix. 172 This in Musick, signifies the Counter Tenor. |
† b. with word-play on counter n.3, a prison.
| 1388 Pol. Poems (1859) I. 277 Perauenture on ware post sumptum temporis plausus, A cowntur-tenur at Newgat cantabit carcere clausus. 1611 Dekker, etc. Roaring Girle Wks. 1873 III. 188 Sir Dav. Think you the Counter cannot breake him?.. I'lle make him sing a Counter tenor, sure. |
c. fig.
| 1614 T. Adams Devil's Banquet 284 Sometimes the Tenour of Judgement; sometimes the Counter-tenour of Reproofe. 1767 Ann. Reg. 195 To the unison of which they would not scruple to recite the counter-tenour. |
2. A counter-tenor voice.
| 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. I. 30 Apr., He has got such a clear counter-tenor. 1814 Scott Wav. xlii, If you heard her fine counter-tenor admonishing Kate and Matty in the morning. 1856 Sabilla Novello Voice & Vocal Art. 4 In England, a fourth class of male voice is recognized, called alto, or counter-tenor. 1879 J. Hullah in Grove Dict. Mus. I. 58/1 The falsetto counter-tenor..still to be found in cathedral choirs, dates..from the restoration of Charles II. |
3. A singer with a counter-tenor voice.
| 1512–25 Northumberland Househ.-Bk. (1770) 40 Gentillmen of the Chapell viij Viz. ij Bassys—ij Tenors—and iiij Countertenours. 1623 Cheque Bk. Chapel Royal (Camden) 10 John Croker, a conter tenor of Westminster. 1627 Ibid. 12 Richard Sandy, a contra tenor of St. Paules. 1711 Budgell Spect. No. 116 ¶3 A most excellent Bass, but..at present he only wanted a Counter-Tenor. 1782 [see contratenor]. 1966 Musical Opinion Aug. 661/1 Purcell..is thought to have been a counter-tenor himself. |
† 4. Name of the fourth string of the bass-viol.
| 1674 Playford Skill Mus. ii. 92 The Bass-Viol..is usually strung with six strings..the first..is called the Treble..the fourth, the Counter-Tenor. |
5. attrib.
| 1598 Barnfield Pecunia iii, I would not sing the Counter-tenor part. a 1672 Wood Life (1848) 67 Mr. Ellis would take up a counter-tenor viol, and play. 1759 Ann. Reg. 279 A counter-tenor voice. 1806 J. W. Callcott Mus. Gram. 9 When the C Clef is placed so that the two cross strokes enclose the middle Line, it is called the Counter Tenor or Viola Clef. |