cantus
Medieval vocal line
Cantus is a Latin term for a melody or chant, used in musical contexts to refer to the principal voice or melodic line in polyphonic composition.
In medieval and Renaissance music, the cantus firmus is a pre-existing melody upon which a new polyphonic work is built.
The term appears in discussions of Gregorian chant and early sacred music: The cantus carried the ancient hymn while other voices wove around it.
Unaccompanied liturgical melody
- gregorianNamed for Pope Gregory
- antiphonAlternating liturgical song
- introitOpening liturgical music
- credoGuiding personal doctrine
requiem · vespers · matins · lauds · compline · psalmody · hymnody · alleluia
plainsong
Unaccompanied liturgical melody
credo · requiem · vespers · matins · lauds · compline · psalmody · hymnody · alleluia · magnificat
melody
Pleasing sequence of notes
- tuneMusical sequence of notes
- plainchantUnaccompanied liturgical melody
- monophonyUnaccompanied single melody
melisma · phrase · line · theme · motif · air · vocalise · intonation · cadence · contour
choir
Organized group of singers
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- motetSacred polyphonic choral work
- madrigalUnaccompanied Renaissance choral composition
acapella · chorale · counterpoint · fugue · anthem · carol · ensemble · voices · soprano · alto
- Cantor's theoremPowersets always strictly larger