Plainchant: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ถ
plainchant
[ pleษชnสงรฆnt ]
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:
๐ต๐น cantochรฃo
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเคพเคฆเคพ เคเคพเคจ
๐ฉ๐ช Plainsong
๐ฎ๐ฉ lagu datar
๐บ๐ฆ ะฟะปะฐัะบะพัะฟัะฒ
๐ต๐ฑ choraล
๐ฏ๐ต ใใฌใผใณใใฃใณใ
๐ซ๐ท plain-chant
๐ช๐ธ canto llano
๐น๐ท dรผz ลarkฤฑ
๐ฐ๐ท ํ๋ ์ธ์ฑํธ
๐ธ๐ฆ ูุดูุฏ ู ุณุทุญ
๐จ๐ฟ plainsong
๐ธ๐ฐ plainsong
๐จ๐ณ ๅนณๅฑ
๐ธ๐ฎ plainsong
๐ฎ๐ธ flettusรถngur
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะถะฐะทัา ำะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแฎแฃแ แ แแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ dรผz melodi
๐ฒ๐ฝ canto llano
Word origin
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.