discant
Definition
Noun: 1. A decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody: In music, a discant is a counter-melody or ornamental line that is sung or played simultaneously with, and higher than, the main melody or tenor part. It is often created spontaneously.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The soprano sang a beautiful discant over the hymn's simple tune.
- In medieval polyphony, the discant section often featured a more florid and active upper voice.
- The flutist improvised a light discant that danced above the orchestra's main theme.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: In medieval and Renaissance music, "discant" (or ) specifically referred to a style of polyphony where a new melody was written in strict note-against-note counterpoint with a pre-existing chant melody (the ).
- The 13th-century motet is an early example of discant technique.
- Modern Context: In contemporary usage, particularly in choral and hymn singing, it commonly refers to an independent, often higher, vocal harmony part.
- The choir's discant on the final verse added a thrilling climax to the performance.
Variants and Related Words
- Descant: This is the more common modern spelling variant of "discant." The two words are interchangeable, with "descant" being prevalent in general usage.
- She learned to sing the descant for the Christmas carol.
Synonyms
- Counter-melody: A secondary melody played in conjunction with the primary one.
- Obbligato: An indispensable instrumental part, often a decorative solo line accompanying the melody. (Note: is usually written, not improvised).
- Harmony part: A general term for a vocal or instrumental line that supports the melody.
Related Phrases
- To descant (verb): To sing or play a descant; figuratively, to talk at length about a subject.
- The violinist descanted elegantly above the string quartet.
- He descanted for an hour on the virtues of classical music.
Noun
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a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody
