organum
- noun
- /ˈɔrɡənəm/
- Specialized
:
organum
- In the 9th century, composers began experimenting with organum, creating music that layered multiple voices in harmony.
Examples
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Some scholars point out close resemblances between medieval organum and Middle Eastern maqam, going so far as to assert that melismatic organum owes its development in part to East-West contacts.
Academic text (1997) -
Some scholars point out close resemblances between medieval organum and Middle Eastern maqam, going so far as to assert that melismatic organum owes its development in part to East-West contacts.
Academic text (1997) -
The choir performed an exquisite piece of organum, showcasing the beauty of early polyphonic music.
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Many early churches incorporated organum into their services, enhancing the spiritual experience with rich vocal harmonies.
How Polyphonic
Surface Forms
Etymology
Organum in music comes from the Greek organon meaning 'instrument' and is linked to the English organ, the large keyboard instrument. So this musical organum is an early way of using voices like musical tools to make harmony.