quodlibet
/ˈkwɒdlɪbɛt/
noun
- A humorous or serious musical composition that combines two or more familiar melodies, often in a playful way.
- Bach's Goldberg Variations end with a quodlibet that weaves together popular songs of his time.
- At the party, they sang a quodlibet of nursery rhymes all at once.
- The choir performed a quodlibet that mixed a folk song with a classical tune.
- A subtle or witty argument or point of debate, especially in medieval scholastic philosophy.
- Medieval scholars loved to debate a good quodlibet over dinner.
- His quodlibet left the audience pondering the paradox for hours.
- The professor posed a quodlibet about the nature of free will.