melisma

American  

[mi-liz-muh] / mɪˈlɪz mə /

noun

Music.

plural

melismas, melismata

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

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melisma British  

/ mɪˈlɪzmə, ˌmɛlɪzˈmætɪk /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• melismatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of melisma

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

Example Sentences

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

From BBC • Aug. 14, 2024

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 • Mar. 15, 2023

It’s true Whitney wasn’t producing or writing all her music, but what she did in terms of introducing melisma singing into mainstream pop cannot be understated.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2022

Beyoncé’s proficiencies include the art of publicity, and her messaging is as precise as her melisma.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 18, 2019

The closing words of each Psalm are chanted more 171 slowly and impressively, a long "triad" being substituted for the "melisma," sung piano.

From Letters of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy from Italy and Switzerland by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix