Noun
A species of poem of a mournful character, in which a single mourner expresses lamentation; a song for one voice.
Source: Webster's dictionaryFrom monody (with melodic lines, intelligible text and placid accompanying music), it was a logical step for Monteverdi to begin composing opera. Source: Internet
Like their madrigal cousins, Renaissance motets developed in episodic format, with separate phrases of the source text being given independent melodic treatment and contrapuntal development; contrapuntal passages often alternate with monody. Source: Internet