Descant

Discantus ( mittellat. ) is the emergence in the 12th century artificial kind of polyphony, the principle of which - in contrast to the previously existing parallel movement of the organum - the strictly performed countermovement (French Dechant ).

The merger of the two first opposing passing rate modes, the actual counterpoint developed. The Discantus was initially only two voices: the melody of the cantus firmus note against note was compared with a higher voice, impromptu singers, discantistae without prior transcript. Later it turned on two and three falsettierende votes, and now the written fixation was essential. Later the highest voice of a polyphonic set treble was called.

The discantandi only sanctioned by the oldest Regulae intervals were the octave, fifth, and the line ( Prime).