What does monody mean?
A monody is fundamentally a song or poem of lament. In literary use, the word describes a work that mourns a person, event, or loss, often in an elevated and ceremonious register; an example would be a monody composed for the dead. Its musical sense is broader and more technical: a monody is music organized around one principal melody, whether or not that melody is accompanied by harmony or other instruments. The word therefore joins an old idea of individual expression—the solo voice—to the later, technical concept of a single melodic strand dominating a composition. Although often encountered in discussions of ancient Greek music, where monody designated a song for one performer, “monody” remains useful today because it identifies both a distinctive form of mourning and a clearly defined musical texture.
nounA monody is a poem or song of lament, especially one expressing grief for the dead. In music, it denotes a composition or texture built around a single principal melody, sometimes with accompaniment.
- A poem or song of lament, especially one mourning the dead or expressing collective grief.
- A musical composition or passage in which a single principal melody dominates, often with accompaniment beneath it.
"The elegist's monody for the fallen soldiers was read aloud beneath the memorial's shadow."
"At the funeral, the cantor performed a solemn monody for the king."
"The composition begins as a monody before the accompanying voices gradually enter."
The plural is used for individual poems, songs, or musical works of this kind.
"The collection contains several monodies written by poets mourning lost friends."
Ancient Greek monody began as a song for one voice, an early musical tradition built around the power of a single melody.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does monody come from?
The word comes from Greek monōidia, a compound of monos, “alone,” and ōidē, “song” or “ode.” It was inherited into Latin and then English, where it originally referred to a solo song. Its literary sense as a lament developed from the idea of expressing sorrow through one voice, while its musical sense refers more broadly to a single dominant melodic line.
Related word forms
How monody is actually used
The literary sense is relatively uncommon and has a strongly solemn or archaic tone. In music, the term does not necessarily mean an unaccompanied solo; a single principal melodic line remains its defining feature.
Easily confused with monody
A monody is a lament or a single melodic line, whereas a monologue is a long speech by one person.