-
The second purpose of chant,
-
Chant also allowed for a period of reflection
-
upon the subject of the preceding reading.
-
A sermon, or a passage, of scripture would be followed
-
by a reflective chant, time for contemplation.
-
This music for reflection upon a preceding religious theme
-
was generally melismatic.
-
Now a melismatic chant is one
-
in which there are many notes
-
for just one syllable of text,
-
and in melismatic chant,
-
the range tends to be a lot broader.