CONTRATENOR Meaning and
Definition
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Contratenor is a term primarily used in music, specifically in classical and choral compositions, to refer to a vocal range or a specific type of vocal part. The term originates from the Latin phrase "contra tenorem" meaning "against the tenor" and is often abbreviated as "ct" or "Ct" in musical scores.
A contratenor is typically a high male voice, similar to a countertenor, which sings in a falsetto or head voice. It is a voice type that is characterized by its ability to sing in a higher register than the typical male tenor range. The contratenor part often functions as a companion to the tenor voice, providing a contrasting melodic line that complements and enhances the overall musical texture.
In medieval and Renaissance vocal music, the contratenor part had a significant role in polyphonic works, particularly in motets and choral compositions. It was commonly used to create rich harmonies, counterpoint, and contrast with other vocal parts, such as the main tenor or cantus firmus. The contratenor part required a skilled singer who could navigate the demanding high range and execute complex melodic lines with precision and clarity.
Today, the term "contratenor" is less commonly used, as countertenors have largely taken over the role historically associated with contratenors. However, in some contexts and historical performances, the term may still be used to indicate a specific high male vocal range or a particular type of vocal part sung by countertenors or male altos.
Common Misspellings for CONTRATENOR
- contertenor
- countretenor
- xontratenor
- vontratenor
- fontratenor
- dontratenor
- cintratenor
- ckntratenor
- clntratenor
- cpntratenor
- c0ntratenor
- c9ntratenor
- cobtratenor
- comtratenor
- cojtratenor
- cohtratenor
- conrratenor
- confratenor
- congratenor
- conyratenor
Etymology of CONTRATENOR
The word "Contratenor" has its roots in Latin. It is a compound word consisting of "contra", meaning "against" or "opposite", and "tenor", which originally referred to the highest male voice in medieval and Renaissance music.
In medieval polyphony, which is a style of music consisting of multiple melodic lines, the "contratenor" was a voice part added to the tenor line as a harmonic support, usually singing in a lower register. The role of the contratenor was to create musical intervals, such as fourths or fifths, with the tenor voice, to enrich the overall harmony of the composition.
Over time, the term "contratenor" evolved to refer not only to a specific voice part, but also to the singers who performed in that range.
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