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

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.

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“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.

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He took a daringly slow tempo in this opening passage, a solemn, low theme in chords that hints at modal plainchant.

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