A descant is a tune which is played or sung above the main tune in a piece of music. a tune that is played or sung above the main tune in a piece of music (cantus )
a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody talk at great length about something of one's interest sing in descant
Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song
1 Soprano or tenor voice 2 The melodic line or counterpoint accompanying an existing melody 3 The upper part of a polyphonic composition 4 The highest pitch member of some families of instruments
To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large
A vocal part or parts added above the highest part and intended to be performed by treble voices along with the ensemble
a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody
1 Soprano or tenor voice 2 The melodic line or counterpoint accompanying an existing melody 3 The upper part of a polyphonic composition
sing by changing register; sing by yodeling; "The Austrians were yodeling in the mountains"
A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments
A second melody, sung above a given melody, in order to add interest Often accompanies hymns and carols and is sometimes improvised The word descant is also used to indicate the high range, as in descant recorder
[ 'des-"kant ] (noun.) 14th century. Middle English dyscant, from Old North French & Medieval Latin; Old North French descant, from Medieval Latin discantus, from Latin dis- + cantus song; more at CHANT.