Plainchant: meaning, definitions and examples

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plainchant

 

[ pleษชnสงรฆnt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

music genre

Plainchant, also known as plainsong, is a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song of the Roman Catholic Church. It is characterized by its free rhythm and a limited range of pitches, often sung in Latin. Historically, plainchant served as the foundation for the later development of Western music, influencing the creation of polyphony and other musical styles.

Synonyms

Gregorian chant, chanting, plainsong, sacred music

Examples of usage

  • The choir performed a beautiful plainchant during the service.
  • Many composers drew inspiration from the melodies of plainchant.
  • Plainchant is still taught in some music schools.
  • The medieval manuscript featured lyrics of plainchant.
  • He studied plainchant to understand the roots of Gregorian music.

Translations

Translations of the word "plainchant" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น cantochรฃo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเคพเคฆเคพ เค—เคพเคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Plainsong

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ lagu datar

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะปะฐัะบะพัะฟั–ะฒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ choraล‚

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒ—ใƒฌใƒผใƒณใƒใƒฃใƒณใƒ„

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท plain-chant

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ canto llano

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท dรผz ลŸarkฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํ”Œ๋ ˆ์ธ์ฑˆํŠธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู†ุดูŠุฏ ู…ุณุทุญ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ plainsong

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ plainsong

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅนณๅ”ฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ plainsong

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ flettusรถngur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐะทั‹า› ำ™ะฝ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒšแƒ”แƒฎแƒฃแƒ แƒ˜ แƒ›แƒ”แƒšแƒแƒ“แƒ˜แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dรผz melodi

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ canto llano

Etymology

The term 'plainchant' comes from the Latin word 'planus' which means 'flat' or 'level', indicating its monophonic nature as opposed to polyphonic music. The practice of plainchant dates back to the early medieval period, specifically around the 9th century, when it began to be codified into a system of notation. The most well-known form of plainchant is the Gregorian chant, named after Pope Gregory I, who is traditionally credited with organizing the chant repertoire. In the context of Christian liturgy, plainchant served as the liturgical music of the Church, integrating scriptural texts and contributing significantly to the solemn atmosphere of worship. The simplicity and spiritual essence of plainchant allowed for the focus to remain on the text and its meaning, making it a vital part of Christian ritual and music history. Over centuries, plainchant has influenced various musical genres, resulting in a rich tradition that is still studied and performed today.