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cantillation

British  
/ ˌkæntɪˈleɪʃən /

noun

  1. the traditional notation representing the various traditional Jewish melodies to which scriptural passages are chanted

  2. chanting or intonation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The music is also an amalgam, taking in the influence of Jewish cantillation, traditional choral styles, gospel, mariachi, pop, blues and 12-tone music.

From New York Times

He crooned his way through such passages in Ligeti’s Sonata for Solo Cello with a moaning, longing sound on the distinctive pizzicato-glissando sighs and sweet cantillation reminiscent of folk music.

From Washington Post

Thus in the cantillations of the old-time hula we find a ready-made anthology that includes every species of composition in the whole range of Hawaiian poetry.

From Project Gutenberg

They guide the modulated flow of the voice in cantillation, thus serving, in a certain sense, as musical notes.

From Project Gutenberg

It is at once too long and too monotonous, but I dare say that if one could follow the words of the accompanying songs, or cantillations, the result might be more entertaining.

From Project Gutenberg