Melismatic Music

Definition

Melismatic music is a style of vocal or choral music where multiple notes are sung on a single syllable. This creates melodic embellishments and flourishes within the text.

Analogy

Think of melismatic music as adding extra toppings to your ice cream sundae. Instead of just having one flavor (note) per scoop (syllable), you have multiple flavors (notes) piled onto each scoop (syllable).

Related terms

Syllabic Music: Syllabic music is the opposite of melismatic music, where each syllable gets its own note. It's like having plain vanilla ice cream with no extra toppings.

Ornamentation: Ornamentation refers to decorative musical flourishes added to melodies, similar to how melismas add embellishments and variations within a vocal line.

Aria: An aria is an expressive solo song in an opera or oratorio, often featuring melismatic passages to showcase the singer's vocal abilities.