melisma

[ mi-liz-muh ]

noun

, Music.

, plural me·lis·mas, me·lis·ma·ta [mi-, liz, -m, uh, -t, uh].

1. an ornamental phrase of several notes sung to one syllable of text, as in plainsong or blues singing.

melisma

/ mɪˈlɪzmə; ˌmɛlɪzˈmætɪk /

noun

1. music an expressive vocal phrase or passage consisting of several notes sung to one syllable

Derived Forms

• melismatic, adjective

Other Words From

• mel·is·mat·ic [mel-iz-, mat, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of melisma¹

First recorded in 1605–15, melisma is from the Greek word mélisma “song, tune”; melody, -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of melisma¹

C19: from Greek: melody

Example Sentences

He asked permission to try it out in front of the London audience, before drifting into a wordless, intimate melisma.

From BBC

It seemed, even, like every blistering high note, well-turned melisma and swooning falsetto note was greeted with hums of approval and the occasional shout of “C’mon!”

From New York Times

For Day, the reverb of the well provides extra depth to her voice as she crescendos, adding melisma and going up an octave along the way.

From Washington Post

If there is anything worth noticing about SZA’s rap-singing/sing-rapping, it might be that instead of relying on melisma — a tactic you hear most often in R&B whenever a single syllable gets taken for a ride across various notes — she prefers to let her words pile up, obeying their contours, coloring them in with whichever pitches and timbres the song demands.

From Washington Post

And it’s true that if you enjoy the precision-drilled dancing, meticulous melisma and auto-tuned sentiments that have turned K-pop into a worldwide sensation over the past 10 years, you are likely to be among those cheering the musical’s Broadway incarnation, which opened on Sunday at Circle in the Square.

From New York Times