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Descant

A contrapuntal or decorative melody superimposed ABOVE another (the principal) melody is a descant. In this sense, "above" means higher in pitch - that is, the counterpoint melody is higher in pitch than the principal melody.

The term derives from Middle English dyscant,Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French descaunt,from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis- + cantus song.

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What is a Ornamental melody played above a theme?

descant


Do melody and harmony function independently of each other?

A melody is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity. Basically a melody is a combination of pitch and rhythm. A harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches or chords.


Small lines used to write music beyond the staff are called?

Lines added to the stave when notes are below or above the top of the stave are called "ledger lines" or "leger lines". They can occur in any stave indicating an instrument with melody.


What part does melody play in music?

The melody is what most people call the "music." In modern music, the melody refers to the main idea, usually the lyrics, of a piece of music. A harmony, typically background vocals and/or instrumentation, is usually added to a melody.


Listening guide for Clair de lune?

Listening Guide for Clair de Lune by Claude DebussyGenre: Character PieceFrom: Ternary ABA'0:00 Melody A- Simple and elegant- Single notes in melody, not a lot of chords0:33 Repeated Melody A1:02 Expansion- No longer a single note melody- Chords added to the main notes of the melody- Phrases are straying from original melody- Getting louder and more dramatic- Simple in the bass, more complicated in the melody1:54 Melody B- Lots of arpeggios is left hand- More complex than melody A- Still elegant2:25 Melody B repeated- Played an octave higher- As melody ascends and descends, the dynamics become louder and quieter respectively2:54 Melody descends and transitions3:10 Part of Melody B repeated again quietly3:23 Melody A returns- softly4:03 Phrases of Melody A repeated- Phrases are lengthened out and more dramatic- Played at a lower, more quiet dynamic4:35 Chords begin to be played in arpeggios in the bass with the simple, single notes of melody played above it4:56 Music fades out in soft, lengthened phrases of Melody A arpeggios- Piece ends in two soft, long, and elegant arpeggios

Related Questions

What is the definition of counterpoint?

Melody added as an accompaniment to a given melody.


A theme is A a melody that is used more than once in a piece B a melody that has a wide range C a melody that also has rhythm D a melody that is given special importance within a piece?

D a melody that is given special importance within a piece


What is a melody with a higher pitch above the basic melody?

I think that the word you are looking for is DESCANT.


What is a Ornamental melody played above a theme?

descant


What are grace notes?

Grace notes is extra notes added to the melody


Marks written above the text to indicate the relative contour of the melody are called?

Neumes


What are the marks written above the text to indicate the relative contour of the melody called?

neumes


What rhymes with given from up above?

- given full of love - given from the wings of a dove - given from angels above - given with a big shove (joke)


On harvest moon magical melody for WII can you get a dog?

Yes you're given one and you have to have it


When a melody acquires significant importance within a given composition it is called a?

Theme


Do melody and harmony function independently of each other?

A melody is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity. Basically a melody is a combination of pitch and rhythm. A harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches or chords.


Small lines used to write music beyond the staff are called?

Lines added to the stave when notes are below or above the top of the stave are called "ledger lines" or "leger lines". They can occur in any stave indicating an instrument with melody.