cantus firmus
Americannoun
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the ancient traditional unisonal plainchant of the Christian Church, having its form set and its use prescribed by ecclesiastical tradition.
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Music. a fixed melody to which other voices are added, typically in polyphonic treatment.
Etymology
Origin of cantus firmus
1840–50; < Medieval Latin: literally, firm song
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.
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
To the cantus firmus write the fifth species in two parts.
From A Treatise on Simple Counterpoint in Forty Lessons by Lehmann, Friedrich Johann
To cantus firmus b write counterpoints in the second species in the other two parts.
From A Treatise on Simple Counterpoint in Forty Lessons by Lehmann, Friedrich Johann
To cantus firmus b write second species in one part.
From A Treatise on Simple Counterpoint in Forty Lessons by Lehmann, Friedrich Johann
To cantus firmus b write one above and one below, in the second species.
From A Treatise on Simple Counterpoint in Forty Lessons by Lehmann, Friedrich Johann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
