Gregorian chant

noun

: a monodic and rhythmically free liturgical chant of the Roman Catholic Church

Examples of Gregorian chant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Duruflé was devoted to Gregorian chant, and his Requiem is based on plainchant themes taken from the traditional Catholic Mass of the Dead. Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2024 Ethel Cain Emerging singer-songwriter Ethel Cain is known for an ethereal sound inspired by Gregorian chants and her experience growing up as a trans woman in a Christian family. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2023 The Vespers are a monumental compendium of styles: Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony, operatic laments, courtly dance, intimate vocal games in a madrigal vein. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2023 In the 1960s, when the Roman Catholic Church was modernizing and just after Senegal had shaken off French colonial rule, the monks of Keur Moussa embraced the instrument, morphing their Gregorian chants into songlike prayers accompanied by the kora. Guy Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2023 Think of a Gregorian chant, which has no beat and yet is still rhythmic. Sara Harrison, Wired, 21 Dec. 2021 On the title track, Mr. Jaar’s low voice sounds like an incantation, or Gregorian chant. Mark Richardson, WSJ, 19 July 2021 At a 1921 recital on the massive organ in Philadelphia’s Wanamaker department store (now Macy’s) he was given four Gregorian chant melodies for a four-movement improvisation evoking the life of Jesus. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 19 Apr. 2021 The Brothers returned to some elements of the music from the 1980 Stanley Kubrick adaptation of The Shining — which King famously hated — like a Gregorian chant from the 1400s, but brought in new elements to voice the vibe of the True Knot, like a hurdy-grande, a 25-foot-long wooden sound box. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Gregorian chant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Gregorian chant was in 1728

Dictionary Entries Near Gregorian chant

Cite this Entry

“Gregorian chant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Gregorian%20chant. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Gregorian chant

noun
: a simple tune with no regular rhythm that is sung in unison and without accompaniment in services of the Roman Catholic Church

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