countertenor

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countertenor

countertenor a male singing voice in the alto range. Singing in this range requires either a special vocal technique called falsetto, or a high extension of the tenor range. Countertenors were required during the Renaissance and Baroque periods when women were not permitted to sing publicly. See also castrato .

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countertenor

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

countertenor Male voice of the same register as the female contralto. It is most common in Britain, where some of the more traditional church choirs still prefer male altos.

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