Melismas |
Music Terms

Melismas |

Dictionary categories
terms and concepts

Greek, unit number melisma – song, melody

1) Melodic passages or whole melodies performed on one syllable of the text. To M. belong dec. types of coloratura, roulades, etc. wok. jewelry. In Western Europe. In musicology, the term “M” is most often used in relation to the chants of monophonic and polyphonic music of the Middle Ages per syllable of the text. M. occupy a prominent place in Byzantine cult music (see Byzantine music) and in Gregorian chant. M. are widely represented in the music of the peoples of the East: for Nar. and prof. music of the countries of the West. They are less common in Europe. It is believed that their penetration into Europe. music culture is associated with the East. influences. The opposite of melismatic. singing is the so-called. syllabic singing, in which there is only one sound for each syllable of the text.

2) In the 16-18 centuries. the term “M.” often used in musicology. literature in accordance with the original meaning of the word as a designation of a musical composition written on some poetic text and intended for singing. The “melismatic style” (stilus melismaticus) at that time was understood to mean a non-full wok. decorations, but a simple song style: it included the production. song type, the performance of which was accessible even to unprepared music lovers.

3) In domestic musicology, the term “M.” it is customary to designate all melodic decorations in vocal and instrumental music, both in a stable form (flame, trill, gruppetto, mordent) and free-improvisational (fiortura, passage, etc.). See Ornamentation.

References: 1) Lасh R., Studies on the history of the development of ornamental melopцie, Lpz., 1913; Idelsohn AZ, Parallels between Gregorian and Hebrew-Onentali chants, «ZfMw», 1921-22, year 4; Ficker RV, Primary Klangformen, «JbP», 1929, (Bd) 36; Соllаеr Р., La migration du style mйlismatique oriental vers l’occident, «Journal of the International Folk Music Council», 1964, (v.) 16.

2) Walther JG, Praecepta der Musikalische Composition, Lpz., 1955 (manuscript, 1708), его же, Musikalisches Lexikon, oder Musikalische Bibliothek, Lpz., 1732, Faks., Kassel-Basel, 1953; Mattheson J., Der perfecte Kapellmeister…, Hamb., 1739, new edition, Kassel, 1954.

V. A. Vakhromeev

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