plainsong

or plain song

[ pleyn-sawng, -song ]

noun

1. the unisonous vocal music used in the Christian church from the earliest times.
2. modal liturgical music; Gregorian chant.
3. a cantus firmus or theme chosen for contrapuntal development.
4. any simple and unadorned melody or air.

plainsong

/ ˈpleɪnˌsɒŋ /

noun

1. the style of unison unaccompanied vocal music used in the medieval Church, esp in Gregorian chant Also calledplainchant

Word History and Origins

Origin of plainsong¹

1505–15; translation of Medieval Latin cantus plānus

Word History and Origins

Origin of plainsong¹

C16: translation of Medieval Latin cantus plānus

Example Sentences

Church music, plainsong music, large choirs — all of that stuff is extremely beautiful, and I wanted to try and get some of that in this record.

From Los Angeles Times

Back and forth, a choir onstage chanted plainsong, answered by another more effusive choir behind the audience.

From Los Angeles Times

Like that wisecrack, Hobson’s style is colloquial throughout; he works in American plainsong even when summoning voices from beyond.

From Los Angeles Times

This writing suggests not so much prose as plainsong—timeless, full of deceptive simplicity, and somehow, in its uncanniness, modal, rather than major or minor.

From The New Yorker

St. Martin’s, whose diners are among the most culturally and ethnically diverse, presents a 20-minute, post-meal concert of plainsong and chant called “A Nightcap for the Soul.”

From Washington Times

Related Words

• melody
• opera
• piece
• rap
• rock
• singing
• soul
• tune