art song
Composed poetic piece
An art song is a composition for solo voice with piano accompaniment, typically setting poetry to music.
The term distinguishes these works from folk songs or popular music—art songs are composed for trained singers and concert performance.
The German Lied and French mélodie are classic examples: Schubert's art songs remain central to the vocal repertoire.
Archaic word for songs
- chansonFrench vocal composition
- romanzaLyrical vocal or instrumental piece
- recitalSolo musical performance
- chamber musicSmall-group classical compositions
romantic era · impressionist · twentieth-century · accompaniment · pianoforte
Viennese song composer
- SchumannNineteenth-century German composer
- BrahmsRomantic German composer
- StraussGerman-Austrian composer family
- DebussyFrench impressionist composer
Britten · Barber · Grieg · Rachmaninoff · Tchaikovsky · Mahler
Highest female voice range
- tenorEssential meaning or import
- baritoneMid-range male voice
- mezzo-sopranoMedium female singing voice
- contraltoLowest female vocal range
bass · countertenor · coloratura · bel canto · diction · interpretation · phrasing · legato
Metered poetic passage
- stanzaPoem's line grouping
- prosodyStudy of verse rhythm
- imageryVivid descriptive language
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
rhyme · rhythm · lyric poetry · Goethe · Rilke · word painting · through-composed · declamation
Intense prolonged craving
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- passionIntense emotional drive
- serenityUndisturbed mental quietude
nostalgia · sorrow · joy · ecstasy · grief · wistfulness · intimacy · introspection
Pleasing sequence of notes
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- chromaticismUse of non-scale tones
- dynamicsStudy of forces
crescendo · diminuendo · cadence · tonality · arpeggiation · counterpoint · ornamentation · prelude
lieder
Archaic word for songs
- chansonFrench vocal composition
- romanzaLyrical vocal or instrumental piece
- recitalSolo musical performance
chamber music · romantic era · impressionist · twentieth-century · accompaniment · pianoforte
Schubert
Viennese song composer
- SchumannNineteenth-century German composer
- BrahmsRomantic German composer
- StraussGerman-Austrian composer family
Debussy · Britten · Barber · Grieg · Rachmaninoff · Tchaikovsky · Mahler
soprano
Highest female voice range
- tenorEssential meaning or import
- baritoneMid-range male voice
- mezzo-sopranoMedium female singing voice
contralto · bass · countertenor · coloratura · bel canto · diction · interpretation · phrasing · legato · rubato
verse
Metered poetic passage
metaphor · rhyme · rhythm · lyric poetry · Goethe · Rilke · word painting · through-composed · declamation · syllabic
yearning
Intense prolonged craving
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- passionIntense emotional drive
serenity · nostalgia · sorrow · joy · ecstasy · grief · wistfulness · intimacy · introspection · tenderness
melody
Pleasing sequence of notes
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- chromaticismUse of non-scale tones
dynamics · crescendo · diminuendo · cadence · tonality · arpeggiation · counterpoint · ornamentation · prelude · postlude
- songstune, folk ballads, melody, ballads, ditty
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- music typesaria, ballad, concerto, symphony, sonata
- musical piecesaria, cantata, concerto, etude, fugue
- vocal musicvocals, soprano, tenor, alto, baritone
- vocal songslieder, folk ballads, ballads, chansons, spirituals
art songfolk song
Traditional community music
folk melody · folk ballad · ballad · work song · sea shanty
art songpop song
Mainstream radio track
popular song · rock song · dance music · radio single · bubblegum pop
art songa cappella
Singing without instruments
campfire song · singalong · drinking song · chant · plainchant
art, song, artist, artistic, artistry, artisan, songs, artsy, songster