prolation

[ proh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

, Medieval Music.

1. the time relationship between a semibreve and a minim in mensural notation.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prolation¹

1325–75; Middle English prolacion < Latin prōlātiōn- (stem of prōlātiō ) a bringing forward. See prolate, -ion

Example Sentences

Probably the teacher of Josquin des Prez, Ockeghem takes us back from more conventional imitative counterpart to the complex world of prolation canons and other musical puzzles.

From Washington Post

He accordingly sets up a three-time rhythm in opposition to the double-time, not infrequently introduces five-time and seven-time, immediately repeats a phrase, but with a prolation, so that its time is again doubled and trebled.

From Project Gutenberg

They had the eternity from one word, and the prolation, the emanation from another word.

From Project Gutenberg

Et les courtisans presents qui n'entendoient pas telle prolation; car selon la nostre ils prononcent Houc nos venimous, estimerent que ce fussent quelques gens ainsi nommez: et depuis surnommerent ceux de la Religion pretenduë reformee, Hucnos: en apres changeant C en G, Hugnots, et avec le temps on a allongé ce mot, et dit Huguenots.

From Project Gutenberg

In treating on the letters, I shall not, like some other grammarians, inquire into the original of their form, as an antiquarian; nor into their formation and prolation by the organs of speech, as a mechanick, anatomist, or physiologist; nor into the properties and gradation of sounds, or the elegance or harshness of particular combinations, as a writer of universal and transcendental grammar.

From Project Gutenberg