In a chant, the text is spoken with some weak rhythmic constraints. Either a lengthy text is read, or a very simple text is recited.

India. The recitation of text (usually religious text) may become ritualized. Here is a (mostly monotone) chant of the Vedas (Hindu sacred text in Sanskrit) by a group of priests in India.

Notice that it is easy to rapidly tap your finger to the beat of this chant although no measure-sized larger units can be heard.

Spain. In Europe during the late middle ages, Bible text were chanted in Latin in a style that came to be known as Gregorian chant.

Again, no rhythmic hierarchy is used (that is, no measures with a fixed number of beats). There is only the single level of beat and each syllable may last for either one or two (or more) beats, depending on the text, or else may be much longer if it is the end of a line. In this style it is common to slow down (ritard) at the end of some lines.

Kenya. Here is an Islamic chant from the coastal town Kenya. Swahili-speaking school children chant `Allah Allah' over and over. It shows a fast 6-beat pattern grouped in 3s. Notice the strong emphasis on the third beat of each set of three.

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