† ˈproperˌchant Mus. Obs.
[f. proper a. + chant n.]
Applied to those hexachords which began on the note C (nearly corresponding to the modern ‘natural scale’).
| 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. 4 What is Properchant?.. It is a propertie of singing, wherein you may sing either fa or mi in ♭ fa {sharp} mi according as it shall be marked ♭ or thus {sharp} and is when the vt is in C fa vt. 1667 C. Simpson Compend. Pract. Mus. 112 From these six Notes, Vt, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, did arise three properties of Singing; which they [Latins] named B Quarre, B Molle, and Properchant or Naturall. Ibid. 113 Properchant was when their Vt was applyed to C... But in our Modern Musick, we acknowledge no such thing as Properchant. |