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Posted By: murraystone descant - 12/16/13 03:48 PM
The notion that a descant is a specifically ornamental melodic line adds extra poignancy to Richard III's soliloquy in Act I Sc I, where he says he is reluctant to loiter in public "Unless to spy my shadow in the sun. And descant on mine own deformity".
Posted By: jenny jenny Re: descant - 12/17/13 02:56 PM

A worthy thought, murraystone. Thanks for it.
Posted By: Jackie Re: descant - 02/12/14 04:03 AM
Not exactly related, but: why is descant pronounced DESS-cant and the word that is only one vowel different pronounced de-SENT?
Posted By: tsuwm Re: descant - 02/12/14 05:52 AM
..or perhaps DEE-sent?
Posted By: Faldage Re: descant - 02/12/14 11:07 AM
Because that's the way we say it.
Posted By: olly Re: descant - 02/13/14 12:47 AM
or Desant..

Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English discant, descaunt < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin discanthus, equivalent to Latin dis- dis-1 + cantus
Posted By: Jackie Re: descant - 02/14/14 04:10 AM
Oh, thanks, olly, for adding all those to the mix! [sarcasm e] wink You doin' ok?
Posted By: Jackie Re: descant - 02/14/14 04:13 AM
..or perhaps DEE-sent? Maybe, M, but I'm not far enough south to say it that way. But I do say INsurance. Hubby says warranTEE, which drives me up the wall.
Posted By: olly Re: descant - 02/19/14 08:46 AM
Doin great Jackie. He said in a rather descant way...
Posted By: Jackie Re: descant - 02/19/14 02:24 PM
Good! :-)
Posted By: Bazr Re: descant - 06/07/14 04:57 AM
When I was in Secondary school I used to sing descant in the school
choir until my voice broke.
Posted By: LukeJavan8 Re: descant - 06/07/14 03:12 PM
I sang boy soprano.
Posted By: Bazr Re: descant - 06/09/14 01:52 AM
In vain to me the smiling Mornings shine,
And redd'ning Phoebus lifts his golden Fire:
The Birds in vain their amorous Descant join;
Or cheerful Fields resume their green Attire:

Thomas Gray (1716–1771), British poet. Sonnet on the Death of Mr. Richard West (l. 1–4). . .
Read more at http://quotes.dictionary.com/In_vain_to_me_the_smiling_Mornings_shine#QXH06CJROvyq8jDR.99

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