Songs and Singing

Songs and Singing

See also music; tuning

antiphonal

a collection of antiphons, hymns, or psalms sung in alternating parts.

balladism

the writing or singing of ballads. — balladist, n.

choristry

the singing of a choir.

hymnology

1. the composing of hymns.
2. the study of the origins, development, and use of hymns.
3. Obsolete, the performing of hymns.

madrigal

1. a part song for several voices making much use of contrapuntal imitation.
2. a lyric poem suitable for setting to music, usually with love as a theme. — madrigalist, n.

melismatics

the practice of composing phrases of several notes to be sung on one syllable of text, as in plainsong.

minstrelsy

1. the art of minstrels.
2. their occupation.
3. a group of minstrels.
4. a collection of their music and songs.

myriologue

an improvised funeral song, composed for the dead and sung by women in modern Greece. — myriologist, n. — myriologic, myriological, adj.