In reply to:

I was wondering what makes a chant a chant?
....
Does it necessarily have certain rhyme scheme and number of basic lines that are then repeated?


I am not one much for music -- what with, i lack the ability to carry a tune even in a bucket-- but some chants, Gregorian chant- does follow rules, so many syllables on one note, and then depending on end of sentence or something- one note higher or lower-
I was taught the rules.. but i don't think the music teacher could have gotten them to in my head with anything less than trepanation--and even that would not have been effective. Someone here might know, or you could LIU-- there are i am sure other types of chant besides Gregorian (or why else would it be modified?) but i can't think of any by name.