descant

Meanings

• noun

  A musical part that is sung or played above the main melody, often with lighter, more decorative notes.

  - "The descant in this piece is particularly beautiful."
  - "The soprano solo is the descant in the chorus."

---

Rhymes

Words rhyming with descant
chant , dance , advantage

---

Variants

List of all variants of descant that leads to same result
descant , descants , discant , discants , descanted , descanting

---

Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French deschanter, meaning 'to sing above' or 'to decorate'.

---

Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The descant in J.S. Bach's 'Brandenburg Concertos' is often considered some of the most challenging and beautiful music ever written.

2. In Gregorian chant, the descant was sometimes referred to as the 'superius' or 'cantus firmus'.

3. Descant records were early phonograph records that were pressed with a very high groove density, allowing for longer playing times.

---

Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. counterpoint: The combination of two or more independent melodies played or sung at the same time.

2. melody: A sequence of single pitches or harmonically related notes played or sung in succession.

---

Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In music, the descant is often used to add complexity and beauty to a composition. In medieval music, the descant was sometimes sung by the cantor, who would improvise melodic embellishments to the plainchant.

How to Memorize "descant"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a soprano soloist singing the descant above a chorus.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'descant' with the idea of a lighter, more decorative melody.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Remember the acronym 'DAVE': Decorative, Above, Voice, Embellishment.

---

Memorize "descant" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize descant is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

   Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.