The use of a borrowed cantus firmus as the basis for a composition has played an important role in our western musical tradition, both in the development of musical composition and in the pedagogy of counterpoint. One of the manifestations of this compositional practice is the use of a chorale or chant in organ music.
What is a cantus line?
In music, a cantus firmus (“fixed melody”) is a pre-existing melody forming the basis of a polyphonic composition.
Is cantus a word?
noun, plural can·tus.
What does Cantus mean?
1 : cantus firmus. 2 : the principal melody or voice.
What does the prefix DES in descant mean?
The prefix des-, meaning “two” or “apart”, indicates that the descant is a “second song” apart from the main melody.
Who invented cantus firmus?
Two composers, Léonin and his successor, Perotin, were responsible for such developments as adding three or four voices to the cantus firmus and creating a codified rhythmic system.
How do I know if I have cantus firmus?
The cantus firmus is traditionally written in alto clef, beginning and ending on the tonic of the key. The note durations are of equal value, with the whole note being the traditional value. The range of the cantus firmus melody is usually no more than an octave.
How long is a cantus firmus?
The following characteristics are typical of all well formed cantus firmi: length of about 8–16 notes. arhythmic (all whole notes; no long or short notes) begin and end on do.
What is it called when all voices move together rhythmically?
A texture in which all voices move together in the same rhythm is called: homorhythmic. You just studied 11 terms!
Who was a leading English composer of lute songs?
The British composer and lute virtuoso John Dowland (1562-1626) was the leading English lutanist composer of his time.
Which type of mass setting is a cantus firmus mass?
In Renaissance music, the cyclic mass was a setting of the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Mass, in which each of the movements – Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei – shared a common musical theme, commonly a cantus firmus, thus making it a unified whole.
Why does Renaissance music sound different from medieval music?
Because church modes were unfit for creating harmonies, in the Baroque period, they were finally abandoned. Instead of them, composers used four minor and major scales. When compared to Medieval music, Renaissance compositions have a fuller sound.
Is the Hallelujah Chorus homophonic?
Hallelujah Chorus: Imitative polyphony
Throughout the piece, the texture switches from homophony (all voices following the same melody) to polyphony, where there are multiple melodies happening at once.
What is Homorhythmic texture?
In music, homorhythm (also homometer) is a texture where there is a “sameness of rhythm in all parts” or “very similar rhythm” as would be used in simple hymn or chorale settings. … Homorhythmic texture delivers lyrics with clarity and emphasis.
What is one reason for the cosmopolitan musical style of the Burgundian court?
What is one reason for the cosmopolitan musical style of the Burgundian court? The court attracted an international crowd and foreign musicians visited frequently. Who was the most famous Burgundian composer? a refrain sung at the beginning of the song and repeated after each stanza.
What is a cantus firmus mass quizlet?
cantus firmus mass. A mass in which each movement is based on a pre-existing meody and serves as the contrapuntal polyphonic foundation. 14th and 15th century. The cantus firmus was often derived from a chant or a secular song. This form was developed by the composers of the Burgundian School.
Where did the Renaissance musical style begin?
A Brief History of Renaissance Music
The Renaissance era itself spans three phases: Early Renaissance: The music of the early Renaissance centered around the Burgundian School, a group of composers led by Guillaume Dufay in northern France and the Low Countries.
What sacred music means?
Religious music (also sacred music) is a type of music that is performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence. It may overlap with ritual music, which is music, sacred or not, performed or composed for or as ritual.
Who composed the first large body of secular songs?
The first body of secular songs that survives in decipherable notation was composed by: –Wandering minstrels or jongleurs.
What does Descented mean?
noun. the act, process, or fact of moving from a higher to a lower position. a downward inclination or slope. a passage or stairway leading down. derivation from an ancestor; lineage; extraction.
What does it mean to Descry?
descry dih-SKRYE verb. 1 : to catch sight of. 2 : find out, discover.