Contratenor is a term widely used in vocal music to describe the countertenor or male alto voice. Synonyms for contratenor include alto, mezzo-soprano (in female voices), haute contre (in French Baroque music), and falsettist (when using a falsetto singing technique). In modern times, the use of contratenor has expanded beyond vocal music to also signify an instrumental part that plays a counter melody to the main melody. In medieval and Renaissance polyphonic music, the term contratenor referred to a voice part that had a fixed range and generally moved at a slower pace than the other voices. However, regardless of the context, all synonyms for contratenor contribute to creating rich and complex harmonies in vocal and instrumental music.