Only principal (tenor or cantus firmus) was sung to words.
He learnt the melody no doubt from Kirnberger, who often made use of it as an example, and twice worked it into a Cantus firmus.
The Gregorian Cantus firmus soon fell into disfavour and disuetude.
The congregation sang the cantus firmus or melody in unison, the singers in the choir gave it the accompaniment of a harmony.
Hence alongside of the Cantus firmus there gradually grew up a Discantus or Cantus figuratus, and instead of singing in unison, singing in harmony was introduced.
From this peculiarity the chant obtained the name of cantus firmus, or fixed chant.
As long as the voices had moved in parallel fourths or fifths it was not difficult for them to keep together, but with the descanter singing two or more notes to every one of the cantus firmus it was quite impossible for them to do so.
The manner of writing practised by Hucbald prescribed what is called parallel motion; that is, the melody of the cantus firmus and that of the descant always rose or fell together.
It seems that after learning to add a second part to the cantus firmus, or chant, the singers, who were acquiring considerable dexterity in their art, began to ornament the additional part.
When writing second species in both parts no cantus firmus is used, both parts being original.
The primitive discant was one note against one note; later the accompanying part was allowed to sing several notes against one of the cantus firmus.
The above list will hopefully provide you with a few useful examples demonstrating the appropriate usage of "cantus firmus" in a variety of sentences. We hope that you will now be able to make sentences using this group of words.
