Conductus

The monophonic conductus was probably first sung while a participant in the Mass or liturgical drama was "conducted" or moved from one place to another in the altar area of the church.  The text was metric, and not liturgical.  The melody was not taken from a chant collection, and was freely composed.  This form was first associated with the church but soon beame a secular form, and the title was applied to almost any Latin song of a serious nature.