CONTRAFACTUM Meaning and
Definition
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Contrafactum is a term used in music to describe a musical composition created by borrowing the melody of an existing piece of music and setting new lyrics or text to it. The resulting composition maintains the structure and musical characteristics of the original melody and often preserves some aspects of the original harmony as well. However, the new lyrics or text can vary significantly from the original, presenting different themes, messages, or emotions.
The concept of contrafactum dates back to medieval and Renaissance music, where composers often used existing melodies from popular songs or even sacred chants as the basis for their own compositions. This practice allowed composers to utilize the familiarity and recognition of the existing melody while infusing their own creativity and personal expression into the new work.
Contrafacta have been prevalent in various musical genres throughout history, including folk songs, hymns, popular music, and even jazz. In some cases, the new compositions can become equally or more popular than the original melodies, as they bring fresh perspectives or reinvent the material. Contrafacta can also serve as a means of political or social commentary, allowing artists to adapt familiar tunes to fit their own ideologies or present dissenting viewpoints.
Overall, contrafactum is a musical technique that involves borrowing a pre-existing melody and creating new lyrics or text for it, resulting in a composition that combines both familiarity and innovation.
Etymology of CONTRAFACTUM
The word "contrafactum" has Latin roots, derived from the combination of two Latin words: "contra" meaning "against" or "opposite", and "factum" meaning "made" or "done". Thus, "contrafactum" can be understood to mean "made against" or "made in opposition to". In the context of music, a "contrafactum" refers to a new composition created by setting new lyrics to a preexisting musical melody.
