melismas

Melisma is the technique of singing a single syllable of text while moving through a sequence of several different notes. It is contrasted with syllabic singing, in which each syllable is set to a single note, and with neumatic singing, which uses a small group of notes per syllable. The term comes from the Greek melisma, meaning “singing with many pitches.”

In Western liturgical tradition, melismas are especially associated with Gregorian chant, where early monophonic chant features brief syllabic settings and later repertories develop elaborate vocal elaboration across long melismatic passages. Melismas helped shape the musical punctuation of texts, signaling cadence, emphasis, and liturgical function. In medieval polyphony, composers extended melismas across many notes to display vocal virtuosity and to connect textual phrases.

Melismatic singing is not unique to Western music. Similar practice appears in many world traditions, including Middle Eastern, Indian, and African musical styles, where a single syllable may be stretched across extensive melodic elaboration. In notation, melismas are indicated by multiple notes attached to a single syllable, often with a legato slur; the way melismas are written varies across chant, polyphony, and modern notation.

Modern usage: In contemporary pop, gospel, and R&B singing, melismas are widely used as an expressive device, with singers extending syllables over rapid runs and leaps. Critics sometimes regard excessive melisma as showy, while proponents see it as a means of expressive nuance and vocal display.