It's like a dog meowing...
April 20, 2015 5:43 AM   Subscribe

Once in awhile an unusual voice shows up on one of the many TV talents shows these day, a countertenor. Greg Pritchard first appeared on Britain’s got talent in 2007. Though he has disappeared from limelight, he brought the existence of Countertenors back onto the public radar. Since then every few years one pops up, causing confusion, disbelieve, then applause from the audience and judges.

Andrew De Leon Singing starts at 2:05.

Travis Pratt Singing starts at 1:05

Artur Vasiliev This version only shows the judges reactions.

Last but not least, the professionals.

Previously on the blue:
Machismo is basically a drag act
Deller on the Threshold
posted by KaizenSoze (18 comments total) 24 users marked this as a favorite
 
There's nothing better than a good countertenor; on the other hand, there's nothing worse than a bad countertenor.
posted by Philosopher Dirtbike at 6:04 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]


That's a remarkable sound.
posted by GallonOfAlan at 6:07 AM on April 20, 2015


I love coutnertenors, even though their resurgence has put a lot of my fellow female alto singers out of gigs!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 6:25 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]


The Goth kid made me cry.
posted by billiebee at 6:26 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]


also see Shamir
posted by runt at 6:38 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]


Andreas Scholl is amazing - he's featured several times in the YouTube playlist in the professionals link above.

Scholl singing Purcell
posted by needled at 6:51 AM on April 20, 2015 [5 favorites]


Although Scholl's (in the playlist linked above) is technically superior, I've always had a soft spot for Klaus Nomi's rendition of the "Cold Song" from Purcell's King Arthur.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:23 AM on April 20, 2015 [3 favorites]


Also previously, a taxonomy of "countertenor", "falsettist", and "male soprano".
posted by kenko at 7:36 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]


My first exposure to the countertenor voice was P.D.Q. Bach's amazing and emotionally wrenching Cantata: Iphigenia In Brooklyn, S. 53162.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:53 AM on April 20, 2015 [2 favorites]


kenko's link was great - I hadn't seen that before. This led me to look up some other performances:

Michael Maniaci singing Handel
Russell Oberlin with Glenn Gould, Bach Cantata No. 54
posted by needled at 8:36 AM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]


Traditionally, the Cantata: Iphigenia In Brooklyn, S. 53162 is sung by a bargain-countertenor.
posted by pjern at 9:24 AM on April 20, 2015 [6 favorites]


Since then every few years one pops up

Exposed as agents of the devious & insidious International Centre For Countertenorism, no doubt.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:45 AM on April 20, 2015 [4 favorites]


oh hey if you live in Boston and need a countertenor you should totally call Gerrod!
posted by St. Hubbins at 2:19 PM on April 20, 2015


Hmmm, Gerrod Pagenkopf's rendition of the aria from Handel's Giulio Cesare sounds modern? to my ears. Compare to Max Emanuel Cenčić's rendition of the same aria.

I don't consider myself a great music expert, just happen to be a fan of Baroque music, and especially Baroque operas, performed by early music ensembles.
posted by needled at 2:59 PM on April 20, 2015


Also: Thomas Bremser sings "WIDERSTEHE doch der Sünde" BWV 54
(Disclaimer: my cousin Britta is one of the accordionists)
posted by e-man at 8:22 PM on April 20, 2015


Upvoting, shamelessly, Scholl's Purcell and particularly the Cold Song. How is it that this much aural pleasure is legal? (I hadn't heard the Klaus Nomi - thanks for that too, and isn't it fab that the same piece can push such different buttons to such good effect?)

I am increasingly persuaded that Purcell did in fact write the bestest music ever.
posted by Devonian at 9:02 PM on April 20, 2015 [1 favorite]


Devonian, you are utterly right about Purcell. Have you heard the Evening Hymn? (Alfred Deller; I also really like Iestyn Davies's rendition, but the only version I could find on YouTube has not-great sound quality.)

Also, after all this tasteful classical stuff we definitely need some Cezar up in here. (Possibly NSFW for scantily clad dancing gymnasts, because Eurovision.)
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:13 AM on April 21, 2015


Double the countertenor goodness!

Philippe Jaroussky and Max Emanuel Cenčić duets

(As for Cezar, "because Eurovision" really does sum it up.)
posted by needled at 5:22 AM on April 21, 2015


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