| 1. | the plain song or cantus firmus used in the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church. |
| 2. | a melody in this style. |
| Gregorian chant n. Roman Catholic Church An unaccompanied, monophonic liturgical chant. [After Saint Gregory I.] |
The traditional music for Latin texts in the worship of the Roman Catholic Church. Gregorian chant is marked by performance in unison and by free-flowing rhythms that follow the phrasing of the text. The chants often call for one syllable to be sung across several notes.
