In organum, which term denotes the harmony written a perfect fifth away from the cantus?

Prepare for the NBCT Music Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Ace your exam by mastering the essential concepts!

Multiple Choice

In organum, which term denotes the harmony written a perfect fifth away from the cantus?

Explanation:
In organum, the added harmony that moves with and sits at a fixed interval to the cantus is called the Vox Organalis. The cantus itself, the main melodic line, is the Vox Principalis. Since the question describes a harmony written a perfect fifth away from the cantus, it points to the organal voice, hence Vox Organalis. The other terms refer to either the general genre (organum) or the main cantus (Vox Principalis), or to a different medieval tradition (Trouvere).

In organum, the added harmony that moves with and sits at a fixed interval to the cantus is called the Vox Organalis. The cantus itself, the main melodic line, is the Vox Principalis. Since the question describes a harmony written a perfect fifth away from the cantus, it points to the organal voice, hence Vox Organalis. The other terms refer to either the general genre (organum) or the main cantus (Vox Principalis), or to a different medieval tradition (Trouvere).

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