cantus – Definition in music

Definition of the Latin term cantus in music:

chant, plainsong
song, vocal work
the topmost part in a composition (in polyphony from around 1300-1600)
voice to which a discantus was added (in polyphony from around 800-1300)

Language

Latin

Singular

cantus

Plural

cantus

Abbreviation

Cant.

Alt. abbreviation

C.

Latin musical terms that include cantus:

cantus ambrosianus – ambrosian chant (the liturgical plainchant reperto...
cantus choralis – literally "choral song"...
cantus coronatus – literally "crowned song"...
cantus ecclesiasticus – plainsong (unaccompanied church music sung in unis...
cantus figuratus – literally "figured song"...
cantus firmus – the pre-existing melody forming the basis of a pol...
cantus Gregorianus – Gregorian chant
cantus mensurabilis – literally "measurable song"...
cantus planus – literally "plain song"...
cantus prius factus – the pre-existing melody forming the basis of a pol...
cantus romanus – Gregorian chant
discantus – discant (the highest voice in a polyphonic composi...
discantus ex improviso – improvised countermelody to the cantus firmus

Music scores that include cantus:

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: Missa Jam Christus astra ascenderat (1590) Page 1
Hans Leo Hassler: Sacri concentus: Concerti a 12 voci (1601) Page 1
Pompeo Cannicciari: Missa in A minor (ca. 1700) Page 1

Latin musical terms related to cantus:

cantilena – song...
carmen – song, tune...
psalmus – psalm (poem or song from The Book of Psalms)