Definition of "cantillation" [can•til•la•tion]

• The intonation of a sentence, codified by marks which are read as sequences of musical pitches. (noun)

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• "To the comment that the Orientalist composer's intoxicating minor mode—based on what is called the ahava-rabba mode in Hebrew cantillation and klezmer music—is virtually the same as the mode Liszt called the "Hungarian Minor" in his rhapsodies, Mr. Botstein says that "many scholars have pointed out that the same musical gestures end up as ethnic signals for any number of cultures.""
• "This year, my son studied his Torah portion and other prayers with a rabbi and learned the cantillation marks that guide the chanting."
• "Broad themes are discussed, such as the Divine Office and the Mass, but also detailed subjects such as psalmody, cantillation, modes, and pivotal chant manuscripts."