In music, a cantus firmus ("fixed melody") is a pre-existing melody forming the basis of a polyphonic composition.
The plural of this Latin term is cantus firmi, although the corrupt form canti firmi (resulting from the grammatically incorrect treatment of cantus as a second- rather than a fourth-declension noun) can also be found. The Italian is often used instead: canto fermo (and the plural in Italian is canti fermi).
- ^ Ultan, Lloyd (1977). Music Theory: Problems and Practices in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, p.151. ISBN 978-0-8166-0802-7.