countermelody

American  

[koun-ter-mel-uh-dee] / ˈkaʊn tərˌmɛl ə di /

noun

plural

countermelodies

1. a melody heard, played, or sung simultaneously with another melody as an integral part of the composition.

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Etymology

Origin of countermelody

First recorded in 1930–35; counter- + melody

Example Sentences

He adds a funky countermelody, reminiscent of Horace Silver or Lee Morgan, and remakes “Billy Joe” into a remarkable slice of hard bop, a 12-minute roller-coaster ride.

From The Wall Street Journal

Music that is mostly homophonic can become temporarily polyphonic if an independent countermelody is added.

From Literature

This is a countermelody, sometimes called a descant part.

From Literature

Above all there is that singular, inborn mix of the rough and the sweet, a softness to his voice, his eyes, that from “Something Wild” on has provided a sort of complicating countermelody to the darker aspects of his less savory roles.

From Los Angeles Times

“We need to add a countermelody to accent the sample.”

From Literature