melismas

Variant of melisma

melisma definition

me·lisma (mə liz′mə)

noun pl. melismata -·mata (-mə tə) or melismas -·mas

a succession of different notes sung upon a single syllable, as orig. in plainsong or, now especially, in the ornamental phrases of Near Eastern and Asian music

Etymology: Gr, song < melizein, to sing, modulate < melos, song: see melic

Related Forms:

  • melismatic mel′·is·mat′ic (mel′iz mat′ik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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