Misplaced Pages

Melisma: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 02:47, 26 March 2006 editShadowhillway (talk | contribs)604 edits removed Melisma musical analyzer software reference← Previous edit Latest revision as of 16:21, 28 November 2024 edit undoMonkbot (talk | contribs)Bots3,695,952 editsm Task 20: replace {lang-??} templates with {langx|??} ‹See Tfd› (Replaced 1);Tag: AWB 
(658 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Singing technique}}
In ], '''melisma''' is the technique of changing the ] (pitch) of a syllable of text while it is being sung. Music sung in this style is referred to as ''melismatic'', as opposed to ''syllabic'', where each syllable of text is matched to a single note. Music of the ancient cultures used melismatic techniques to achieve a hypnotic trance in the listener, useful for early mystical initiation rites (]) and religious worship. This quality is still found in much Hindu and Muslim religious music today. In western music, the term most commonly refers to ], but may be used to describe music of any genre, including ] singing and later ]. ] is generally considered to be one of the better modern employers of the technique.
]" (''Methodist Hymn Book'', 1933, No. 204).<ref>{{cite book|last=Shepherd |first=John |year=2003 |title=Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World: Performance and Production |page=565 |isbn=978-0-8264-6322-7}}</ref> {{audio|Syllabic and melismatic.mid|Play}}]]


'''Melisma''' ({{langx|grc|μέλισμα}}, {{transliterate|grc|mélisma}}, {{literally|song}}; from {{langx|grc|{{linktext|μέλος}}|melos|song, melody|label=none}}, plural: ''melismata'') is the ] of a single ] of ] while moving between several different ]s in succession. Music sung in this style is referred to as ''melismatic'', as opposed to '''''syllabic''''', in which each syllable of text is matched to a single note. An informal term for melisma is a '''vocal run'''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6791133 |title=How 'American Idol' Uses (and Abuses) Melisma |first=Mike |last=Katzif |publisher=] |date=January 11, 2007 |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> The term ] is also sometimes used interchangeably with melisma.<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uRo8AAAAQBAJ&dq=roulade+melisma&pg=PA555|title=Music in the Western World|first1=Piero |last1=Weiss |first2=Richard |last2=Taruskin|year= 2007|isbn=9781111793449|publisher=Cengage Learning|chapter=Glossary: Roulade|page=555}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B558IP84wggC&dq=roulade+melisma&pg=PA103|title=Modern Music and Musicians; Part Two: Encyclopedia|chapter=Melisma|editor-first=Louis C. |editor-last=Elson|page=803|year=1911|publisher=University Society |isbn=9781404706750 }}</ref>
Melisma first appeared in written form in some genres of Gregorian Chant, with the earliest written appearance around ] AD. where it was used in certain sections of the ]. The ] and the ], in particular, were characteristically melismatic, for example, while the tract is not, and repetitive melodic patterns were deliberately avoided in the style. The Byzantine rite also used melismatic elements in their music, which developed roughly concurrently to the Gregorian chant.


==History==
⚫ The hymn tune "]" by ], to which the hymn ] is usually sung, contains one of the most melismatic sequences in popular Christian hymn music, on the "o" of the word "Gloria".
{{Globalize|section|date=November 2022}}
===General===
The term ''melisma'' may be used to describe music of any genre, including ] singing, ], and later ]. Within the tradition of ], melisma is still commonly used in the chanting of ], readings from the ], and in the body of a service.<ref>{{cite book |title=Jewish Music: Its Historical Development |first=Abraham Zevi |last=Idelsohn |author-link=Abraham Zevi Idelsohn |year=1929 |isbn=978-0-486-27147-7 }}{{pn|date=May 2020}}</ref>


Today, melisma is commonly used in ], ], and ], Irish ] singing, and ]. African music infused the blues with melisma. Due to the influences of ], melisma is also commonly featured in Western ].<ref name=NYT/> Gaelic music's use of melisma commonly appears in early Appalachian music and has been a constant feature of American country and western music since its inception.
Melisma is today commonly used in Middle Eastern popular music. Melisma is also commonly featured in Western ], which has been heavily influenced by ]al and vocal techniques, by artists such as ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].

===Prevalence in western popular music===
The use of melisma is a common feature of artists such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], among others.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web |last=Everitt |first=Lauren |title= Whitney Houston and the art of melisma |date=February 15, 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17039208 |work=BBC News |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/whoa-nelly%21-mw0000103677 |title='Whoa, Nelly!' review |first=Stephen Thomas |last=Erlewine |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref> The use of melismatic vocals in pop music slowly grew in the 1980s. In the following two decades, melismatic vocals became the standard used to judge a singer’s skill. This is partially why singers who are proficient in this singing style consistently make the lists of best singers of all time.{{cn|date=January 2023}} ] topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1984, with "]" with her melismatic vocals. Although other artists used melisma before, Houston's rendition of ]'s ballad "]" pushed the technique into the mainstream in the 1990s.<ref name="bbc"/> The trend in ] singers is considered to have been popularized by Mariah Carey's song "]", which was released and topped the U.S. charts in 1990, and went on to be certified gold.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Vision of Love' sets off melisma trend |newspaper=] |date=February 4, 2003 |url=https://www.mcarchives.com/index.asp?id=1457 |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Frere-Jones |first=Sasha |title=On Top: Mariah Carey's record-breaking career |magazine=] |date = April 3, 2006 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/04/03/on-top |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=100 Greatest Singers of All Time: #79. Mariah Carey |magazine=] |date=November 27, 2008 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-147019/mariah-carey-4-40559/ |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref>

As late as 2007, melismatic singers such as ] were still scoring big hits, but around 2008–2009, this trend reverted to how it was prior to Carey, Dion, and Houston's success – singers with less showy styles such as ] and ] began to outsell new releases by Carey and Christina Aguilera, ending nearly two decades of the style's dominance of pop-music vocals.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/arts/music/26browne.html |title=Trilling Songbirds Clip Their Wings |last=Browne |first=David |date=December 26, 2010 |newspaper=] |access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Examples==
{{listen
| filename = U.S. Army Band - Angels We Have Heard on High.ogg
| title = Angels We Have Heard on High
| description = Chorus of U.S. Army Band, ''a cappella''
| format = ]
}}
⚫ The traditional French carol tune to which the hymn "]" is usually sung (and "]" in Great Britain), contains one of the most well known melismatic sequences in Christian hymn music. Twice in its refrain, the ''o'' of the word ''Gloria'' is held through 16 different notes.

]'s '']'' contains numerous examples of melisma, as in the following excerpt from the chorus "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" (]). The soprano and alto lines engage in a 57-note melisma on the word ''born''.

<!--this image displayed wider than 400px for clarity-->
]
{{audio|Handel Messiah - For Unto Us a Child is Born excerpt.mid|Play}}

== See also ==
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Richard L. Crocker: "Melisma". ] online, ed. L. Macy, accessed 27 Mar 2005.
*


==External links== == External links ==
* *
* *


{{Melody}}
⚫ ]


⚫ ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 16:21, 28 November 2024

Singing technique
Syllabic and melismatic text setting: "Jesus Christ Is Ris'n Today" (Methodist Hymn Book, 1933, No. 204). Play

Melisma (Ancient Greek: μέλισμα, mélisma, lit. 'song'; from μέλος, melos, 'song, melody', plural: melismata) is the singing of a single syllable of text while moving between several different notes in succession. Music sung in this style is referred to as melismatic, as opposed to syllabic, in which each syllable of text is matched to a single note. An informal term for melisma is a vocal run. The term roulade is also sometimes used interchangeably with melisma.

History

Globe icon.The examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this section, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new section, as appropriate. (November 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

General

The term melisma may be used to describe music of any genre, including baroque singing, opera, and later gospel. Within the tradition of Religious Jewish music, melisma is still commonly used in the chanting of Torah, readings from the Prophets, and in the body of a service.

Today, melisma is commonly used in Middle Eastern, African, and African American music, Irish sean nós singing, and flamenco. African music infused the blues with melisma. Due to the influences of African-American music, melisma is also commonly featured in Western popular music. Gaelic music's use of melisma commonly appears in early Appalachian music and has been a constant feature of American country and western music since its inception.

Prevalence in western popular music

The use of melisma is a common feature of artists such as Deniece Williams, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Céline Dion, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Beyoncé, among others. The use of melismatic vocals in pop music slowly grew in the 1980s. In the following two decades, melismatic vocals became the standard used to judge a singer’s skill. This is partially why singers who are proficient in this singing style consistently make the lists of best singers of all time. Deniece Williams topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1984, with "Let's Hear It for the Boy" with her melismatic vocals. Although other artists used melisma before, Houston's rendition of Dolly Parton's ballad "I Will Always Love You" pushed the technique into the mainstream in the 1990s. The trend in R&B singers is considered to have been popularized by Mariah Carey's song "Vision of Love", which was released and topped the U.S. charts in 1990, and went on to be certified gold.

As late as 2007, melismatic singers such as Leona Lewis were still scoring big hits, but around 2008–2009, this trend reverted to how it was prior to Carey, Dion, and Houston's success – singers with less showy styles such as Kesha and Cheryl Cole began to outsell new releases by Carey and Christina Aguilera, ending nearly two decades of the style's dominance of pop-music vocals.

Examples

Angels We Have Heard on High Chorus of U.S. Army Band, a cappella
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The traditional French carol tune to which the hymn "Angels We Have Heard on High" is usually sung (and "Angels from the Realms of Glory" in Great Britain), contains one of the most well known melismatic sequences in Christian hymn music. Twice in its refrain, the o of the word Gloria is held through 16 different notes.

George Frideric Handel's Messiah contains numerous examples of melisma, as in the following excerpt from the chorus "For Unto Us a Child Is Born" (Part I, No. 12). The soprano and alto lines engage in a 57-note melisma on the word born.

Play

See also

References

  1. Shepherd, John (2003). Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World: Performance and Production. p. 565. ISBN 978-0-8264-6322-7.
  2. Katzif, Mike (January 11, 2007). "How 'American Idol' Uses (and Abuses) Melisma". National Public Radio. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  3. Weiss, Piero; Taruskin, Richard (2007). "Glossary: Roulade". Music in the Western World. Cengage Learning. p. 555. ISBN 9781111793449.
  4. Elson, Louis C., ed. (1911). "Melisma". Modern Music and Musicians; Part Two: Encyclopedia. University Society. p. 803. ISBN 9781404706750.
  5. Idelsohn, Abraham Zevi (1929). Jewish Music: Its Historical Development. ISBN 978-0-486-27147-7.
  6. ^ Browne, David (December 26, 2010). "Trilling Songbirds Clip Their Wings". The New York Times. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  7. ^ Everitt, Lauren (February 15, 2012). "Whitney Houston and the art of melisma". BBC News. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  8. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "'Whoa, Nelly!' review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  9. "'Vision of Love' sets off melisma trend". The Village Voice. February 4, 2003. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  10. Frere-Jones, Sasha (April 3, 2006). "On Top: Mariah Carey's record-breaking career". The New Yorker. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  11. "100 Greatest Singers of All Time: #79. Mariah Carey". Rolling Stone. November 27, 2008. Retrieved October 7, 2019.

External links

Melody
Categories: