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Glite Dictionary
monodic

monodic

9.9
A single melody without accompaniment or harmony, like a solo voice
  • adjective
  • /məˈnɒdɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : monódico
  • The composer wrote a monodic piece that showcased a solo soprano voice.

Examples

  • A monodic style is often very expressive.

  • A monodic chant can create a powerful and intimate musical experience.

  • Early church music was predominantly monodic, emphasizing the clarity of a single melody.

  • This piece is monodic.

  • The singer performed a beautiful monodic piece, captivating the audience with just her voice.

  • In the ancient festival, the choir sang a monodic chant that echoed through the hills.

  • The composer focused on creating monodic melodies that highlighted the beauty of the human voice.

Synonyms

monadic
vsmonodic
1 9.8

Relating to a function that takes only one input

applies specifically to a single melodic line in music rather than units
monophonic
vsmonodic
  • Specialized
8.1

Music that has one melody and no other musical lines

is used specifically for a single vocal or melodic line without accompaniment
monodical
vsmonodic
  • Specialized
9.9

Having one tune sung or played without other parts

emphasizes the absence of accompaniment or harmony rather than just one part

Antonyms

polyphonic
  • Specialized
2 7.2

Two or more independent melodies that sound at the same time

Surface Forms

monodic positive

Morphology

monodic = monody (semi-transparent) = monody + ic

Formed by adding the adjectival suffix '-ic' to the rare noun 'monody'; the formation is regular but the base word is uncommon, so learners may only partially infer the meaning.

Etymology

Monodic is made of mono- meaning 'one', seen in words like monotone or monologue, and the same root as ode meaning 'song', so it literally means 'one song'. That's why a monodic piece has a single melody or vocal line without harmony.