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 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. 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 sb.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 April. 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 couter-tenor voice.
1623. Cheque Bk. Chapel Royal (Camden), 10. John Croker, a conter tenor of Westminster. Ibid. (1627), 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].
† 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. 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.
