Final answer:
Chant melodies are described as syllabic, neumatic, or melismatic, based on the number of notes per syllable. Syllabic involves one note per syllable, neumatic entails a few notes, and melismatic means several notes per syllable.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chant melodies are described as syllabic, neumatic, or melismatic, based on how many notes are set to each syllable of the text. In this context:
- Syllabic signifies a style of singing where there is one note for each syllable of text.
- Neumatic refers to having a few notes for each syllable of text.
- Melismatic involves singing several notes for each syllable of text, which contrasts the syllabic style where each syllable of the text is matched with a single note.
This distinction is critical in the study of Gregorian chant and the historical development of Western music, particularly in the Medieval period, where various notational systems and theories regarding rhythm and polyphony were established.