gymel

9.9

Two voices sing together a third apart

noun
/ˈdʒɪməl/

Archaic

: gymel

The choir performed a beautiful gymel during the medieval section of the concert.

Examples

Musicologists study the use of gymel as a feature of fourteenth-century English polyphony.
In medieval music, a gymel often added depth to compositions.
In early English church music, gymel was often used to enrich the harmony.
The choir sang a beautiful gymel during the service.
In early English church music, gymel was often used to enrich the harmony.
Musicologists study the use of gymel as a feature of fourteenth-century English polyphony.
In medieval music, a gymel often added depth to compositions.

Surface Forms

gymel singular

gymels plural

Etymology

Gymel comes from the Latin gemellus, which means 'twin' and is the same idea behind the star sign Gemini. So a gymel is like two 'twin' voice parts sung together in close harmony, which is why the term describes paired vocal lines in medieval music.