cantus

American  

[kan-tuhs] / ˈkæn təs /

noun

plural

cantus

1. cantus firmus.

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cantus British  

/ ˈkæntəs /

noun

1. a medieval form of church singing; chant

2. Also called: canto.  the highest part in a piece of choral music

3. (in 15th- or 16th-century music) a piece of choral music, usually secular, in polyphonic style

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Etymology

Origin of cantus

From Latin, dating back to 1580–90; canto

Example Sentences

Each section is built on a simple cantus firmus — a brief, unharmonized chant — around which a rich, involving six-part harmonic fabric is woven.

From New York Times • Apr. 3, 2011

The album of folk-inspired Christmas music, a welcome change from today's homogenized carols, ranges from a 12th century Latin tune, Ad cantus leticie, to a rousing Gloucestershire Wassail from modern Britain.

From Time Magazine Archive

The given melody or “principal” soon acquired the name of cantus firmus, and the other parts were each called contrapunctus, 11  as before they had been called tenor and descant.

From Critical and Historical Essays Lectures delivered at Columbia University by Baltzell, W. J. (Winton James)

For an account of the chant or cantus firmus of the Roman Church see Plain-Song.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 7 "Cerargyrite" to "Charing Cross" by Various

Even on the Continent, the great schools of contrapuntists delighted to show their skill by employing as their cantus firmus, or chief part, some well-known popular song, such as "L'Homme Armé," for example.

From Woman's Work in Music by Elson, Arthur