Countertenor Jokes

Miscellaneous nonsense...
Outrageous! Gratuitous insults to hardworking singers. And conductors. Tsk tsk.

How do you get a Wagnerian soprano to sing softer? Give her some sheet music.

How many tenors does it take to change a light bulb? None. They just steal somebody else's light.

How many singers does it take to change a lightbulb? Six. one to change it, and the other five to fight off the tenor who is hogging.

How many tenors does it take to change a light bulb? Four. One to change the bulb and three to bitch that they could have done it if they had the high notes.

How do you tell if a tenor is dead? The wine bottle is still full and the comics haven't been touched.

How do you put a sparkle in a tenor's eye? Shine a flashlight in his ear.

Where is a tenor's resonance? Where his brain should be.

What's the definition of a male quartet? Three men and a tenor.

Did you hear about the tenor who announced that in the following season he would only sing three title roles: Othello, Samson, and Forza del Destino?

If you took all the tenors in the world and laid them end to end, it would be a good idea.

How do you tell if a bass is actually dead? Hold out a cheque (but don't be fooled: a slight, residual spasmodic clutching action may occur even hours after death has occurred).

How do you tell if a bass is dead? What's the difference?

In the last act of Don Giovanni, there is always a statue which is replaced at some point by a real singer, a bass (the Commendatore). How can you tell when the switch has occurred? The statue starts looking a bit stiff.

How many basses does it take to change a lightbulb? None. They're so macho they prefer to walk in the dark and bang their shins.

A guy walks into a pet store wanting a parrot. The store clerk shows him two beautiful ones out on the floor. "This one's $5,000 and the other is $10,000." the clerk said. "Wow! What does the $5,000 one do?" "This parrot can sing every aria Mozart ever wrote." "And the other?" said the customer. "This one can sing Wagner's entire Ring cycle. There's another one in the back room for $30,000." "Holy moly! What does that one do?" "Nothing that I can tell, but the other two parrots call him 'Maestro'."

What's the first thing a composer says at work? "Would you like fries with that?"

What do you call a composer without a significant other? "Homeless."

Why do composers have to be awake by six o'clock? Because most shops close by six thirty.

What would a composer do if he won a million dollars? Continue to compose until the money ran out.

What's the difference between a conductor and a stagecoach driver? The stagecoach driver only has to look at four horses' asses.

There were two people walking down the street. One was a composer. The other didn't have any money either.

What's the difference between a bull and an orchestra? The bull has the horns in the front and the a**hole in the back.

A conductor and a violist are standing in the middle of the road. Which one do you run over first, and why? The conductor. Business before pleasure.

Why are conductor's hearts so coveted for transplants? They've had so little use.

What's the difference between a conductor and a sack of fertilizer? The sack.

What do you have when a group of conductors are up to their necks in wet concrete? Not enough concrete.

What's the difference between a pig and a symphony orchestra conductor? There are some things a pig just isn't willing to do.

What's the ideal weight for a conductor? About 2 1/2 lbs. including the urn.

What's the difference between God and a conductor? God knows He's not a conductor.

What's the definition of an assistant conductor? A mouse trying to become a rat.

What's the difference between alto clef and Greek? Some conductors actually read Greek.

What to do with a horn player that can't play? Give him two sticks, put him in the back, and call him a percussionist. What do you do if he can't do that? Take away one of the sticks, put him up front, and call him Maestro.

If you threw a violist and a soprano off a cliff, which one would hit the ground first? Who cares?

What's the difference between a soprano and a terrorist? You can negotiate with a terrorist.

What's the difference between a soprano and a pirhana? The lipstick.

What's the difference between a soprano and a pit bull? The jewellery.

How many sopranos does it take to change a light bulb?
One. She holds the bulb and the world revolves around her.
Two. One to hold the diet cola and the other to get her accompanist to do it.
Four. One to change the bulb and three to pull the chair out from under her.

What's the difference between a Wagnerian soprano and the average All-Pro offensive lineman? Stage makeup.

What's the difference between a Wagnerian soprano and a Wagnerian Tenor? About 10 pounds

How is a soubrette different from a sewer rat? Some people actually like sewer rats.

What's the difference between a soubrette and a cobra? One is deadly poisonous, and the other is a reptile.

How do you tell if a Wagnerian soprano is dead? The horses seem very relieved.

What's the first thing a soprano does in the morning? Puts on her clothes and goes home.

What's the next thing a soprano does in the morning? Looks for her instrument.

What's the difference between a soprano and a Porsche? Most musicians have never been in a Porsche.

What's the definition of a mezzo? A soprano who can sight-read.

A musician arrived at the pearly gates. What did you do when you were alive?" asked St. Peter. "I was the principal trombone player of the London Symphony Orchestra." "Excellent! We have a vacancy in our celestial symphony orchestra for a trombonist. Why don't you turn up at the next rehearsal." So, when the time for the next rehearsal arrived our friend turned up with his heavenly trombone [sic]. As he took his seat, God moved, in a mysterious way, to the podium and tapped his baton to bring the players to attention. Our friend turned to the angelic second trombonist (!) and whispered, "So, what's God like as a conductor?" "Oh, he's OK most of the time, but occasionally he thinks he's von Karajan."

Mozart was in a bad mood because once again the string section was off, and the new symphony was starting to sound abysmal. During the rehearsal break, a sad-eyed trombonist walked up to him and whispered, "Maestro, a good friend of mine just died, and he didn't have two kreutzers to rub together. We're taking up a collection for his funeral expenses, so could you see your way to donating five gulden to help bury a poor violinist?" Mozart reached into his pocket and slapped some money into the musician's hand. "Five gulden to bury a violinist? Take thirty, be my guest and bury six of them for me!"

The rehearsal was going badly, and Mozart's dog was starting to howl. Someone in the string section made the mistake of laughing. Mozart looked straight in his direction. "Hmmm. Do you know what the difference is between my dog and the string section?" Mozart asked with a straight face. "No," someone foolishly replied. "The dog knows when to stop scratching."

Twelve year old Mozart was looking over the orchestra, listening to the rehearsals. It was his first opera, and like many other 'firsts' in his life, he had to deal with an uncooperative orchestra. After a few minutes of listening, thinking, and jotting down margin notes, he asked the theatre director if he could hire about 20 or 25 (!!) more violinists. The director was clearly annoyed, which was nothing new. "What a demanding young man you are!" He scowled. "Why do you need more violins?" "Because there must be someone in this town who is able to play the right notes at the right time with right expression," Mozart piped up.

Steven Spielberg was discussing his new project - an action docudrama about famous composers starring top movie stars. Sylvester Stallone, Steven Seagal, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger were all present. "Well," started Stallone, "I've always admired Mozart. I would love to play him." "Chopin has always been my favorite, and my image would improve if people saw me playing the piano," said Willis. "I'll play him." "I've always been partial to Strauss and his waltzes," said Seagal. "I'd like to play him." Spielberg was very pleased with these choices. "Sounds splendid." Then, looking at Schwarzenegger, he asked, "Who do you want to be, Arnold?" So Arnold says, "I'll be Bach."

I worry that the person who thought up Muzak may be thinking up something else ~ Lily Tomlin

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All these terms can be found in standard dictionaries - but not these definitions! ..
Counteract	i) operatic performance by a countertenor ii) act of an opera containing the leading countertenor's big aria
Counterappeal	if you are reading this, you don't need a definition. See counterattraction, below
Counterattack	to play countertenor CDs very loudly on a Sunday morning and wake up the neighbours
Counterattraction	phenomenon of being drawn to the countertenor voice
Counterbalance	skill required of a countertenor required to sing Va Tacito atop a high tower, rising and falling, on stage
Counterbeam	big smile from a countertenor
Counterblast	unexpected fortissimo baritone from a countertenor
Counterbore	irritating subspecies of counterbuff (q.v.)
Counterbuff	i) music lover devoted to or very knowledgeable about countertenors ii) contributor to this website
Countercast	to give an alto role to a countertenor
Counterchange	putting on jumpers, anorak, scarves and hat after performance
Countercharge	cost of a ticket to a countertenor concert
Countercharm	mesmerising effect a countertenor on his audience
Counterclaim	countertenor declaring that he should sing a certain role
Counterclockwise	correct way to count down the time before the next countertenor concert
Countercuff	where a countertenor writes the lyrics in case he goes blank in the middle of the song
Counterculture	i) stolid adherence to Baroque male alto repertoire regardless of musical fashion ii) the customarily excellent manners of the countertenor
Countercurse	vile imprecations muttered by concertgoer on hearing that a countertenor concert has been cancelled.
Counterdisengage	to come back to the mundane banality of earthly existence after listening to the aetherial tones of a countertenor
Counterembattled	of a countertenor singing an heroic aria from the battlements of a castle
Counterespionage	detective work required to find a countertenor concerts that are not publicised by his agent or recording label
Counterevidence	countertenor CD left in the CD player
Counterfeit	pedal extremities of a countertenor
Counterfoil	preventing unappreciative family and friends from administering counterpenalty (q.v.)
Counterguard	body guard for a countertenor
Counterinstrument	lute or harpsichord. Ocasionally, fortepiano
Counterintelligence	cerebral gifts in a countertenor
Counterintuitive	of a male alto who succeeds despite being untrained
Counterirritant	e.g. telling a countertenor that the conductor prefers female mezzos to countertenors
Counterletter	fan mail to a countertenor
Countermand	insistence on casting a countertenor. May be followed by disparaging remarks about contraltos in trousers.
Countermarch	collective motion of a party of countertenor admirers on their way to the concert hall from the pub
Countermeasure	about 6'4" or 1.96m
Countermove	customary action of a countertenor, e.g. bending the knees whn emphasising a word or note
Counteroffensive	promotional tour for a countertenor's latest CD
Counterpane	spasm in the stomach on hearing of the cancellation of a countertenor recital. See countersink and counterstricken, below
Counterpart	role in an opera sung by a countertenor
Counterpenalty	having one's countertenor CDs confiscated by unappreciative family or friends
Counterplea	audience clapping madly in hope of one more encore from a countertenor
Counterplot	that which is well and truly lost by a counterbuff or counterbore (q.v.)
Counterpoint	(i) gesture of a concertgoer on seeing a famous countertenor (ii) a device of many Baroque composers, all of whom are dead, though no direct connection between these two facts has been established. Still taught in many schools, as a form of punishment
Counterpoise	dramatic posture adopted by countertenor about to sing an heroic aria
Counterpoison	substance that a counterbuff's friends and familiy would like to administer to a counterbuff, often prepared in the garden on a wet day
Counterposition	see counterview, below
Counterproductive	of countertenor in the studio, recording the new CD
Counterproposal	formal invitation by a promoter to a countertenor
Counterpunch	feeling in stomach as countertenor sings Bach
Counterreformation ---	conversion of an unbeliever to countertenor-enthusiasm
Counterrevolution	phenomenon in late twentieth-century musical taste
Counterscuffle	mob of concertgoers trying to get a countertenor's autograph
Counterseal	irritating plastic wrapping that prevents you from listening to your new countertenor CD for at least half an hour
Countersense	appreciation of the skill and art of the countertenor
Countershading	designer stubble on the face of a countertenor
Countersign	to autograph, e.g. a CD booklet; of a countertenor
Countersink	i) feeling regularly experienced by the spouse of a counterbuff (q.v.) ii) feeling on seeing the notice that the countertenor is unwell and unable to sing that night
Counterstricken	feeling on hearing confirmation that the countertenor is unwell and will not sing
Countertenor	singing waiter with a high voice
Countertenorist	Someone who attempts to usurp the hegemony of conceited male singers.
Counterterrorism	shock and amazement in uninitiated concertgoer on first seeing a 6'4" male singing in a powerful alto voice.
Counterthreat	e.g Umiliata ti vedrò (Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare, Act III)
Counterthrust	countertenor's gesture accompanying e.g. I will give you a full flowing ball (Henry Martin)
Countertop	baseball cap
Countertripping	unchoreographed dance by a countertenor encountering a prop in the wrong place on stage
Countervalue	i) encores ii) group booking for concert
Counterview	best seats at a countertenor concert, i.e. within sock distance
Kitchen counter	countertenor who can cook
Over the counter	legally purchased CDs
Rev counter	number of clergy at a countertenor concert
Speed counter	countertenor singing rapid coloratura
Under the counter	mysterious CDs received through the post

Accent	An unusual manner of pronunciation, e.g. 'Y'all sang that real good!'
Accidentals	Wrong notes
Ad libitum	A premiere
Agitato	String player's state of mind when a peg slips in the middle of a piece
Agnus Dei	Woman composer famous for her church music
Altered chord	A sonority that has been spayed
Attaca	'Fire at will!'
Augmented fifth	36-ounce bottle
Bar line	Gathering of people, usually among which may be found a musician or two
Beat	What music students to do each other with their musical instruments. The down beat is performed on the top of the head, while the up beat is struck under the chin
Bravo	Literally, How bold! or What nerve! Spontaneous expression of appreciation on the part of the concert goer after a particularly trying performance
Breve	How a sustained note sounds when a violinist runs out of bow
Cadence	(i) The short nickname of a rock group whose full name is Cadence Clearwater Revival (ii) When everybody hopes you're going to stop, but you don't. Final Cadence: when they FORCE you to stop
Cantus firmus	The part you get when you can only play four notes
Chord	Usually spelt with an 's' on the end, means a particular type of pants, e.g. 'He wears chords.'
Chromatic scale	Instrument for weighing that indicates half-pounds
Clef	(i) If a student cannot sing, he may have an affliction of the palate, called a clef (ii) Something to jump from if you can't sing and you have to teach
Coloratura soprano	Singer who has great trouble finding the proper note, but who has a wild time hunting for it
Compound meter	Place to park your car that requires two dimes
Duple meter	May take any even number of coins
Triple meter	Only rich people should park by these
Meter signature	Autograph of the person who writes you a ticket when you put an odd number of coins in a duple meter
Conduct	Type of air vents in a prison, especially designed to prevent escape. Could also be installed for effective use in a practice room
Conductor	Musician who is adept at following many people at the same time
Crescendo	Reminder to the performer that he has been playing too loudly
Cut time	When you're going twice as fast as everyone else in the orchestra
Detache	Indication that the trombones are to play with the slides removed
Diatonic	What buxom sopranos drink in an effort to become svelte
Discord	Not to be confused with Datcord
Dominant	Adjective used to describe the voice of a child who sings off key
Duration	Can be used to describe how long a music teacher can exercise self-control
English horn	Neither English nor a horn, not to be confused with the French horn, which is German
Espressivo	Close the eyes and play with a wide vibrato
Fermata	Brand of girdle made especially for opera singers
Flat	What happens to a tonic if it sits too long in the open air.
Flute	Sophisticated pea shooter with a range of up to 500 yards, blown transversely to confuse the enemy
Form	(i) The shape of a composition (ii) The shape of the musician playing the composition (iii) The paper to be filled out in triplicate in order to get enough money from the Arts Council to play the composition
Glissando	(i) The musical equivalent of slipping on a banana peel (ii) A technique adopted by string players for difficult runs
Half step	Pace used by a cellist when carrying his instrument
Harmonic minor	Good music student
Harmony	Corn-like food eaten by people with accents (see above for definition of accent)
Hemiola	Hereditary blood disease caused by chromatics
Heroic tenor	Singer who gets by on sheer nerve and tight clothing
Lamentoso	With handkerchiefs
Major triad	Name of the head of the Music Department
Minor triad	Name of the wife of the head of the Music Department
Mean-tone temperament	State of mind when everybody's trying to tune at the same time
Modulation	'Nothing is bad in modulation.'
Music	Er...
Tempo	Where a headache begins
Tone cluster	Chordal orgy first discovered by a well-endowed woman pianist leaning forward for a page turn
Tonic	Medicinal liquid to be consumed with gin before, during, or after a performance. (.)
Transposition	Moving the relative pitch of a piece of music that is too low for the basses to a point where it is too high for the sopranos
Trill	Musical equivalent of an epileptic seizure
Triplet	One of three children, born to one mother very closely in time. If a composer uses a lot of triplets he has probably been taking a fertility drug
Vibrato	Used by singers to hide the fact that they are on the wrong pitch
Virtuoso	Musician with very high morals.