different between falsetto vs countertenor

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian falsetto, from falso (“false”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /f??l?s?t.??/, /f?l?s?t.??/
• (US) enPR: fäls??t?, IPA^(key): /f?l?s?t.o?/, /f???s??.o?/
• Hyphenation: fal?set?to

Noun

falsetto (countable and uncountable, plural falsettos)

1. (singing, uncountable) The "false" (singing) voice in any human, usually airy and lacking a purity of vowels; created by utilizing the next highest vocal folds above those used for speech and normal range singing. It is commonly confused with the head voice register.
2. (music, countable) A person who sings in falsetto.

Translations

Verb

falsetto (third-person singular simple present falsettos, present participle falsettoing, simple past and past participle falsettoed)

1. To sing or utter in falsetto.

Anagrams

• floatest

Italian

Noun

falsetto m (plural falsetti)

1. (music) falsetto (voice)

English

Alternative forms

• counter-tenor
• counter tenor

Etymology

counter- +? tenor

Noun

countertenor (plural countertenors)

1. adult male singer who uses head tone or falsetto to sing far higher than the typical male vocal range
2. male singing voice far higher than the typical male vocal range
3. (Older) a part or section performing a countermelody against the tenor or main part

Coordinate terms

• (voice types): soprano, mezzo-soprano, contralto (female); countertenor, tenor, baritone, bass (male)

Related terms

• contratenor
• contratenor altus
• contratenor bassus

Translations