Sentence examples for descant from inspiring English sources

It is now generally believed that English descant originally involved singing in two parts with an upper voice extemporaneously added to a plainchant, frequently in contrary motion, as opposed to the parallel motion typical of fauxbourdon.

The music is basically in descant or treble-dominated style: a melodically and rhythmically elaborated upper part over two slower moving parts, usually for instruments.

Memories of what happened the last few times the BBC's commentators were permitted to descant over fairy-tale weddings of this sort are still relatively fresh, as are the details of each royal divorce.

In addition to helping Hamlet make up his mind (or not) to pursue revenge, "The Mousetrap" allows that melancholy soul to descant memorably about the rules and worth of acting.

It struck me, as often happens when I read Adams's beautifully written if rather self-celebratory programme notes, that he's a little too eager to descant on the charms of his music, prematurely enrolling himself in the classical tradition.

Dinner parties up and down the land are reportedly interrupted by metallic clattering as people drop their cutlery, wring their hands and descant on how wonderful this version of Stephen Sondheim is.

And so on and oleaginously forth, while the greater tweeting Murdoch sings descant.

It may be this fact alone that leads successive producers of Mahagonny, the plot of which involves three criminals on the run who find they can go no further and found a city: Mahagonny, city of gold, to which the disenchanted and destitute then flock – to descant on its continued relevance.

I breathe a sigh of relief though when I hear Sir David Willcocks' descant to Hark the Herald Angels Sing, as his is the best.

Briggflatts I Brag, sweet tenor bull, descant on Rawthey's madrigal, each pebble its part for the fells' late spring.

We read the bill!"A powerful few, armed with megaphones, provide a descant over the chorus.