| 释义 |
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]. 1502Ord. 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. 1594T. B. La Primaud. Fr. Acad. ii. 95 They make the voice..small, cleere, and shrill, like to the countertenor. 1631R. Brathwait Whimzies, Char. Ballad-monger 19 Now he counterfeits a naturall base, then a perpetuall treble, and ends with a counter-tenure. 1706A. Bedford Temple Mus. ix. 172 This in Musick, signifies the Counter Tenor.
†b. with word-play on counter n.3, a prison.
1388Pol. Poems (1859) I. 277 Perauenture on ware post sumptum temporis plausus, A cowntur-tenur at Newgat cantabit carcere clausus. 1611Dekker, 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.
1614T. Adams Devil's Banquet 284 Sometimes the Tenour of Judgement; sometimes the Counter-tenour of Reproofe. 1767Ann. Reg. 195 To the unison of which they would not scruple to recite the counter-tenour.
2. A counter-tenor voice.
1771Smollett Humph. Cl. I. 30 Apr., He has got such a clear counter-tenor. 1814Scott Wav. xlii, If you heard her fine counter-tenor admonishing Kate and Matty in the morning. 1856Sabilla Novello Voice & Vocal Art. 4 In England, a fourth class of male voice is recognized, called alto, or counter-tenor. 1879J. 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.
1512–25Northumberland Househ.-Bk. (1770) 40 Gentillmen of the Chapell viij Viz. ij Bassys—ij Tenors—and iiij Countertenours. 1623Cheque Bk. Chapel Royal (Camden) 10 John Croker, a conter tenor of Westminster. 1627Ibid. 12 Richard Sandy, a contra tenor of St. Paules. 1711Budgell Spect. No. 116 ⁋3 A most excellent Bass, but..at present he only wanted a Counter-Tenor. 1782[see contratenor]. 1966Musical Opinion Aug. 661/1 Purcell..is thought to have been a counter-tenor himself.
†4. Name of the fourth string of the bass-viol.
1674Playford 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.
1598Barnfield Pecunia iii, I would not sing the Counter-tenor part. a1672Wood Life (1848) 67 Mr. Ellis would take up a counter-tenor viol, and play. 1759Ann. Reg. 279 A counter-tenor voice. 1806J. 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. |