Word
kyrie
Phoneticskyrie
Definition
n. 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.
Examples
“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.”
Examples
simple
“The choir sang a beautiful kyrie during the morning service.”
contextual
“The composer spent months perfecting the kyrie, ensuring the opening movement set a somber tone for the rest of the Mass.”
complex
“In many classical choral works, the kyrie is characterized by a polyphonic structure that emphasizes the repetitive nature of the plea for divine compassion.”
Usage
Often capitalized as 'Kyrie' when referring to the specific liturgical text or a titled musical movement.