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modalist

9.6

A musician who writes music using older church scales and harmony

noun
/ˈmoʊdəlɪst/

Specialized

: modalista

As a dedicated modalist, she often experiments with unusual scales in her pieces.

Examples

Many modern composers admire the work of a modalist for its unique harmonic language.
The famous modalist composed a new piece using ancient scales.
The famous modalist drew inspiration from medieval church music for his latest composition.
Many modalists prefer to explore non-traditional harmonies.
The famous modalist drew inspiration from medieval church music for his latest composition.
As a dedicated modalist, she often experiments with unusual scales in her pieces.
Many modern composers admire the work of a modalist for its unique harmonic language.

Surface Forms

modalist singular

modalists plural

Morphology

modalist = modal (transparent) = modal + ist

Clear agentive formation from 'modal' meaning 'relating to musical modes', so 'modalist' denotes someone who uses or emphasizes modal harmony.

Etymology

Modalist comes from the word mode and Latin modus meaning 'way' or 'measure'. In music, a 'mode' is a particular scale or 'way' of making melody, so a modalist is a musician who works with those different musical 'ways'.