gymel

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gymel, gimel (from Lat. gemellus, twin). The word has been used in mus. in 3 senses, all with the idea of twinship. (1) Style of singing alleged to have been common in parts of Britain as early as the 10th or 11th cents. Whilst one body of singers took the tune of a song another body would extemporize a part in 3rds beneath it.(2) Type of comp. found in the 14th and early 15th cents. in which, whilst the main tune, or cantus firmus, was sung in a lower v., 2 upper vv. sang an acc. in which they moved independently of the other v. but in 3rds with one another.(3) In 16th-cent. choral mus. the word gymel on a vocal part means that the singers of that part are here divided (same as divisi). The restoration of the status quo is then indicated by the word semel.

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