plain-chant

(in French pron. planshan), plain-song. The old Greg or i an Church-music, so-called from its smooth progre in notes of equal length. It employs 8 modes (q.v.), and is written on four-line staves, employing 3 notes, the long, the breve and semibreve, and two clefs. It is still employed in the R. C. cantillation of priests at the altar, and is the basis of the Episcopal Church service.