Learn about the countertenor voice – Rochdale Borough Council (2024)

FAQs

What is the rarest voice type countertenor? ›

A countertenor is a male singer who can sing as high as a soprano or mezzo-soprano. The countertenor is the rarest of all voice types.

A countertenor (also contra tenor) is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of the female contralto or mezzo-soprano voice types, generally extending from around G₃ to D₅ or E₅, although a sopranist (a specific kind of countertenor) may match the soprano's range of around C₄ to ...

A contralto's vocal range is almost identical to that of a countertenor, while a woman who sings lower still might be called contralto profundo, equivalent to a male tenor, or even contralto basso, equivalent to a baritone, but all these distinctions are full of variation.

Check these ladies out. Contraltos are arguably the rarest of female voice types and they possess a tone so dark they often give the men a run for their money.

Jakub Józef Orliński

1990) is, without a doubt, the most famous countertenor working today, appearing on the March 2024 issue of BBC Music Magazine.

Blessed with what the New York Times described as a “beautiful countertenor,” singer Art Garfunkel has made an indelible mark on the music world as both a solo artist and half of the unrivaled Simon & Garfunkel.

like in the old days, when people still thought it was a Gods' given thing. Nowadays, you can choose to do so because if you find the right teacher, who knows the anatomy of the vocal instrument, you can easily develop a countertenor sound and sing those wonderful pieces.

countertenor, in music, adult male alto voice, either natural or falsetto. In England the word generally refers to a falsetto alto rather than a high tenor. Some writers reserve the term countertenor for a naturally produced voice, terming the falsetto voice a male alto.

Definitions of countertenor. the highest adult male singing voice. synonyms: alto.

Despite this, the rise of the countertenor during the 20th century was largely due to a renewed interest in the Baroque operas of composers such as Purcell and Handel. In addition to the castrato voice, countertenor can be subdivided into two further types: the sopranist, or male soprano, and the haute-contre.

Are countertenors castrated? ›

Castrati and countertenors have never been the same thing. A countertenor is a man with a natural baritone voice who sings in falsetto. A castrato was a man who was castrated before his voice changed so that his natural voice remained in the soprano range.

There is also abundant evidence that women prefer men with a deep voice, while men prefer women with a high voice. Attractive male voices are around 96 Hz and the most attractive women voices are up to 280 Hz.

Aretha Franklin

The Queen of Soul was unrivalled for decades when it came to having the best singing voice on the planet. Using her gospel background to her advantage, Aretha had such an incredibly powerful and passionate voice. Even 50 years after her debut, she brought audiences to tears with her performances.

Even so, one nearly ubiquitous facet of choral singing is the shortage of tenor voices. Most men 18 and older tend to have baritone chest voices, and because of this, many men in choirs tend to prefer singing in the bass section (though true basses are even rarer than tenors).

Classical (bel-Canto) is by far the most difficult & complex type of vocal performance. It requires the most training, most musical knowledge, harshest pitch adherence, and closest cooperation with an orchestra.