discant

Discant, or discantus, is a medieval term for a style of polyphony in which two or more voices move with measured, relatively independent rhythm, producing consonant intervals and clear cadences. It is often described as note-for-note or rhythmically coordinated counterpoint, contrasting with florid organum in which the upper voice runs more freely against a longer-sustained cantus firmus.

Discant originated in the late 11th to 12th centuries and was developed notably at the Notre Dame School of Paris. It flourished during the 12th and early 13th centuries as composers such as Léonin and Pérotin expanded two- and three-voice textures. It formed part of the transition from simple organum to more freely contrapuntal writing and relied on the rhythmic modes of the time.

Typical features include a slower-moving cantus firmus or tenor against a more actively moving upper voice, regular rhythmic alignment, and an emphasis on consonant intervals at cadences. Dissonances are approached and resolved by step; motion can be either contrary or parallel within the allowed rhythmic framework.

While the term later broadened to describe other counterpoint practices in medieval and Renaissance theory, discant remains a key concept for understanding early polyphonic development and the move toward more independent parts in Western music.