monody, monodic. Term sometimes used as synonym of monophonic mus. or for acc. solo song, but properly it is a particular kind of acc. solo song which developed c.1600 as a reaction against 16th-cent. polyphonic style. It is distinguished by recit.-like, sometimes florid, v.-part and figured-bass acc. The members of Bardi's Camerata in Florence wrote in monodic style, Caccini publishing a coll. of monodies, Le nuove musiche, in 1602. By 1613 it was adopted for instr. mus. e.g. in trio sonatas of Rossi and Marini.

monody ode sung by a single voice in Greek tragedy; mournful song, dirge. XVII. — late L. monōdia — Gr. monōidíā, f. mónos MONO- + ōid- sing; see ODE, -Y3.