Definitions for "Melismatic"
Many notes for one syllable of text. See neumatic and syllabic. HEAR IT
music with melismas, flowing passages of more than four or five notes sung to a single syllable of text. It is one of three style categories in setting of lyrics in Gregorian Chant, the others being syllabic and neumatic. In chant, melismatic style is associated with graduals, tracts, responsories, and alleluias. [ALR; GJC
melody in which each syllable of text is set to several pitches