plainchant

[pleyn-chant, -chahnt]

noun

1. plainsong.

plainchant

/ ˈpleɪnˌtʃɑːnt /

noun

1. another name for plainsong

Word History and Origins

Origin of plainchant¹

1720–30; plain ¹ + chant, modeled on French plain-chant

Word History and Origins

Origin of plainchant¹

C18: from French, rendering Medieval Latin cantus plānus; see _plain ¹

Example Sentences

Each section—crucifixion, burial and resurrection—began with plainchant and continued with more elaborate settings of those and other sacred texts on the subjects.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

At the gates of hell, the stones instruct Orpheus not to sing there “unless you sing in a dead language” — so Hopkins and Orlinski duly start intoning Latin, in a parody of medieval plainchant.

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The vocal settings are plain as well, with qualities again of Glass and Satie, along with hints of Robert Ashley, Broadway, elemental pop song and plainchant.

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There’s been a plainchant from women for the last 30 years that our roles are tedious to play.

Read more on The Guardian

“Partita for 8 Voices” is a pattern book of vocal styles: its movements are stitched together from plainchant, percussive breathing, Early American hymnody, and half a dozen other techniques.

Read more on The New Yorker