kyrie
n. countablen. a short prayer or song used in some church services that asks for mercy. It is also the name for a piece of music written for this prayer.
n. a short liturgical prayer or response beginning with or consisting of the words 'Kyrie eleison'. Often refers to the first movement of a musical setting of the Mass.
The choir sang a beautiful kyrie during the morning service.
The composer spent months perfecting the kyrie, ensuring the opening movement set a somber tone for the rest of the Mass.
In many classical choral works, the kyrie is characterized by a polyphonic structure that emphasizes the repetitive nature of the plea for divine compassion.
Often capitalized as 'Kyrie' when referring to the specific liturgical text or a titled musical movement.