Discant (Noun)
Meaning
A decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The choir's discant added a rich and complex layer to the traditional hymn, elevating it to a new level of beauty.
- In the Renaissance era, discant was a common feature of sacred music, with singers often improvising elaborate melodies above the main theme.
- The jazz pianist's discant wove in and out of the saxophonist's solo, creating a thrilling dialogue between the two instruments.
- The discant sung by the soprano section added a bright and airy texture to the overall sound of the choir.
- In medieval music, discant was often used to add a sense of tension and release to the music, as the upper voices moved in and out of harmony with the main melody.