Gregorian chant

American  

noun

1. the plain song or cantus firmus used in the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church.

2. a melody in this style.

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Gregorian chant British  

noun

1. another name for plainsong

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Gregorian chant Cultural  

1. The traditional music for Latin texts in the worship of the Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian chant is marked by performance in unison and by free-flowing rhythms that follow the phrasing of the text. The chants often call for one syllable to be sung across several notes.

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Etymology

Origin of Gregorian chant

1745–55; named after Pope Gregory I; see -ian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Gregorian chant

He noted that those Catholics can attend Masses in the modern rite that incorporate elements common to the Latin Mass, including Gregorian chant, incense and long periods of silence.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 22, 2022

The view is so inspiring I feel like singing Gregorian chant, but I decide not to subject the others to that.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 4, 2021

Many missed the Latin rite’s sense of mystery and awe and the centuries-old Gregorian chant that went with it.

From Reuters ● Jul. 16, 2021

In the absence of a choir, my church, the Episcopal Church of St. Ignatius of Antioch in New York City, had the organist sing the traditional Mass in Gregorian chant.

From New York Times ● May 8, 2020

Sometimes, on the other hand, the Gregorian chant seems to borrow from Gothic its flowery tendrils, its scattered pinnacles, its gauzy rolls, its tremulous lace, its trimmings light and thin as the voices of children.

From En Route by Huysmans, J.-K. (Joris-Karl)