harmonist

¹ American  

[hahr-muh-nist] / ˈhɑr mə nɪst /

noun

1. a person skilled in harmony.

2. a person who makes a harmony, as of the Gospels.

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Harmonist ² American  

[hahr-muh-nist] / ˈhɑr mə nɪst /

Or Harmonite

noun

1. a member of a celibate religious sect that emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1803.

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harmonist British  

/ ˈhɑːmənɪst /

noun

1. a person skilled in the art and techniques of harmony

2. a person who combines and collates parallel narratives

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Other Word Forms

• harmonistic adjective
• harmonistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of harmonist¹

First recorded in 1560–70; harmon(y) + -ist

Origin of Harmonist²

1815–25; after Harmony, town in Pennsylvania; -ist

Example Sentences

Mr. Jobim once called him “a great melodist, harmonist, king of rhythm, of syncopation, of swing” and “singular, without equal.”

From New York Times • Dec. 23, 2023

Above all, Mr. Sondheim said, he is a harmonist whose songs are inspired by theatrical characters.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2015

Throughout the vibrant Scherzo, the plaintive Adagio and the episodic and ultimately exuberant finale, Mr. Gilbert brought out musical resonances that linked Rachmaninoff as a harmonist to Debussy, Mahler and even early Schoenberg.

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2010

Even the acquisition and exercise of critical knowledge tends to blunt the sense of natural beauties, as a refined harmonist becomes indifferent to the strains of simple melody.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 04 by Scott, Walter, Sir

There are few if any of Weber's melodies which are notable for creative power, and as a harmonist he was lamentably weak.

From Music: An Art and a Language by Spalding, Walter Raymond