[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-411250-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-411250-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","faux-bourdon-and-descant-a-brief-explanation","Faux-bourdon and Descant - A Brief Explanation","","Section explains the musical terms “Faux-bourdon” and “Descant,” citing historical interpretations and a 1899 lecture by Dr. Albert Ham at Trinity University, Toronto. It describes Faux-bourdon as a harmonized setting where the principal melody is carried or “held” in the Tenor part, with origins traced into early nineteenth-century practice. It presents Descant as a regulated improvisation later becoming written, and states the modern meaning as adding a counter-theme above the main theme, including practical guidance for treble voice distribution.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/literature/","Literature",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/faux-bourdon-and-descant-a-brief-explanation/411250/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/faux-bourdon-and-descant-a-brief-explanation/411250.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Jasmine","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-28",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What does “Faux-bourdon” mean in this text?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It is generally understood as a harmonized setting of a piece of music, with the melody or tune in the Tenor part, where “Tenor” is linked to Latin “tenere” meaning “to hold.”","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How is “Descant” defined according to the excerpt?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Today it means adding a counter-theme of a more or less varied character above the principal or main theme.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How should the Descant be performed for the most effective result?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The excerpt says it may be sung by one, two, or three treble voices, but the most effective result comes from giving the Descant to one half of the trebles while the remaining trebles, altos, tenors, basses, and the congregation sing the tune in unison.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},411250,1790989059,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,91,95,100,105,110,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":89,"slug":90},80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":92,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":26,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":117,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144},2336478487870,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","TRL Toronto Reforenco LibraryT0ONToLIBRARY3713l 05145452 B  \n147  \n\\#971783  \n96  \nINSCRIBED TO THE  \nREV.CANON PLUMPTRE,M.A.  \n# SIXHYMNS AND CAROLS\n\nWITH  \nDESCANTS  \nCoMPOSED AND ARRANGED BY  \nALBERT HAM  \n(PRICE ONE SHILLING)  \n2  \n1302  \nPU0  \nC000  \nAUG231945  \n782.0H189  \n# FAUX-BOURDON AND DESCANT\n\nIn view of the fact that there is a revival of Faux-bourdonand Descant,it will not be out of place to quote the following:  \n\"There is a considerable difference of opinion among historians as tothe original and exact meaning of the terms Fauxbourdon'and 'Descant.'  \nNowadays,Fauxbourdon is generally understood to be a harmonizedsetting of a piece of music,with the melody or tune in the Tenor part.Indeed,the word Tenor is derived from the Latin 'tenere,'to hold,andwas applied to the voice that carried or ^held'the principal melody ortheme.The custom of placing a hymn melody in the Tenor part extendedright into the earlier part of the nineteenth century.A familiar exampleof the use of Fauxbourdon is exemplifed in the Festal Responses byTallis,in which the Plain-song melody is given to the Tenors.  \nThe term 'Dscant,'or'Discantus,'which may be traced back to theearly part of the twelfth century,was probably a species of regulatedimprovisation which afterwards developed into a written art.  \nThe Descant part was often sung to a single vowel—i.e.,vocalized—the words being left to those who sang the melody of the hymn or song.  \nToday,the word 'Descant'means adding a Counter-theme of a moreor less varied character above the principal or main theme.  \nA Dscant part may be sung by one,two or three Treble voices;but perhaps the most effective result can be obtained by giving theDescant to one-half of the Trebles,the remaining Trebles,the Altos,Tenors and Basses and the congregation all singing the tune in unison.\"—Extract from a lecture on Ancient and Mediceval Music by Dr.AlbertHam,F.R.C.0.,at Trinity University,Toronto,in March,1899.  \nDescant singing has found a place in the services of St.James'Cathedral,Toronto,for over a quarter of a century.It has been used very sparingly and not as a mere musicalperformance,but rather with the prime object of givingencouragement to congregational singing.  \nALBERT HAM,ToRONTO.  \nDecember,1928.  \nross  \nand  \nsay  \night  \nD130  2  \nCONTENTS  \nTUNEMETREHYMNr S.Flavian …  …  …  C.M..  …Most ancient of all mysteries2 Rockingham…  LM.  .…When I survey the wondrous Cross3 Martyrdom ...…  .…  C.M.  …0 God of Bethel,by Whose hand4 Toronto New…  …7.7.7.7.7.7.…Throned upon the awful Tree5 The First Nowell ...  …Irregular …The first Nowell the Angel did say6 Carol of the Shepherds ..7876.D..….Heaven is come to earth this night  \nDESCANT  \nS.FLAVIAN  \nC.M.  \n15452  \n2L.M. DESCANT15452  \nROCKINGHAM","cbCaigvTdDv3TnZi","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaigvTdDv3TnZi","pdf",1636015,"English","# Faux-bourdon and Descant\n## Historical meaning and terminology\n## Faux-bourdon as harmonized Tenor practice\n## Descant origins and modern definition\n## Descant performance guidance\n## Use in Toronto cathedral services","[{\"question\":\"What does “Faux-bourdon” mean in this text?\",\"answer\":\"It is generally understood as a harmonized setting of a piece of music, with the melody or tune in the Tenor part, where “Tenor” is linked to Latin “tenere” meaning “to hold.”\"},{\"question\":\"How is “Descant” defined according to the excerpt?\",\"answer\":\"Today it means adding a counter-theme of a more or less varied character above the principal or main theme.\"},{\"question\":\"How should the Descant be performed for the most effective result?\",\"answer\":\"The excerpt says it may be sung by one, two, or three treble voices, but the most effective result comes from giving the Descant to one half of the trebles while the remaining trebles, altos, tenors, basses, and the congregation sing the tune in unison.\"}]","Faux-bourdon and Descant - A Brief Explanation | PDF",1790587935,31]