diaphony Mus.
(daɪˈæfənɪ)
[ad. late L. diaphōnia dissonance, discord, a. Gr. διαϕωνία discord, f. διάϕωνος dissonant, f. δια- apart + ϕωνεῖν to sound. Cf. F. diaphonie, 18th c. in Hatz.-Darm.]
† 1. In etymol. sense: Discord. Obs.—o
| 1656 Blount Glossogr., Diaphony, a divers sound, a discord. |
2. In mediæval music (as usually understood): The most primitive form of harmony, in which the parts proceeded by parallel motion in fourths, fifths, and octaves: the same as organum.
But some suppose it to have meant a system in which the parts were sung responsively at these intervals.
| 1834 A. Merrick Albrechtsberger's Theoret. Wks. 154 note. 1871 Q. Rev. No. 261. 158 We might add no harmony, for the diaphony employed..is to our ears most terrible discord. 1880 C. H. H. Parry in Grove Dict. Mus. I. 391 The supposed first form of harmony, which was called Diaphony, or Organum. 1881 Macfarren Counterp. i. 1 Diaphony..may have meant alternation or response..the parts..were sung in succession and not together. |