Discanter

/dɪsˈkæntər/ noun

Definition

A person who sings or composes a discant; a singer of countermelody.

Etymology

From 'discant' plus '-er' (one who performs). This agent noun from the medieval singing technique is now mainly historical.

Kelly Says

Medieval church choirs had specialized 'discanters'—singers trained to improvise melodies above the main chant—and this job title vanished when musical notation became precise enough that everyone could read their part.

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