canto fermo

British  

/ ˈkæntəs ˈfɜːməs, ˈkæntəʊ ˈfɜːməʊ /

noun

1. a melody that is the basis to which other parts are added in polyphonic music

2. the traditional plainchant as prescribed by use and regulation in the Christian Church

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Etymology

Origin of canto fermo

Italian, from Medieval Latin, literally: fixed song

Example Sentences

It was founded upon a canto fermo, a melody of an ancient plain song of the Middle Ages, and used in High Mass from a very remote period.

From House of Torment A Tale of the Remarkable Adventures of Mr. John Commendone, Gentleman to King Phillip II of Spain at the English Court by Gull, Cyril Arthur Edward Ranger

They say it is canto fermo, 185 Gregorian, etc.; no matter.

From Letters of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy from Italy and Switzerland by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix

I send you a specimen of the mode in which they render the canto fermo, regardless both of the words and the sense.

From Letters of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy from Italy and Switzerland by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix

When the canto fermo is in notes of equal length and is sung without intermission, it is of course as rigid a mechanical device as an acrostic.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 2 "Constantine Pavlovich" to "Convention" by Various

In life we have destiny from which there is no escape; in counterpoint we have the canto fermo of which not a note may be altered. 

From Castellinaria and Other Sicilian Diversions by Jones, Henry Festing