melisma

American  

[mi-liz-muh] / mɪˈlɪz mə /

noun

Music.

plural

melismas, melismata

1. an ornamental phrase of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in plainsong or blues singing.

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melisma British  

/ mɪˈlɪzmə, ˌmɛlɪzˈmætɪk /

noun

1. music an expressive vocal phrase or passage consisting of several notes sung to one syllable

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Other Word Forms

• melismatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of melisma

First recorded in 1605–15, melisma is from the Greek word mélisma “song, tune”; melody, -ism

Example Sentences

He asked permission to try it out in front of the London audience, before drifting into a wordless, intimate melisma.

From BBC • Aug. 14, 2024

It’s true Whitney wasn’t producing or writing all her music, but what she did in terms of introducing melisma singing into mainstream pop cannot be understated.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2022

The arresting opening sounds a high note with a long falling melisma on the syllable “la” and a very sparse bass line.

From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2019

The last word is drawn out in an anguished melisma.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 29, 2018

The closing words of each Psalm are chanted more 171 slowly and impressively, a long "triad" being substituted for the "melisma," sung piano.

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