monody
One-voiced dirge
A monody is a poem or song of mourning, especially one lamenting someone's death.
The term also applies in music to a style featuring a single melodic line with accompaniment, as opposed to polyphony.
In Greek tragedy, a monody was a passage sung by one actor rather than the chorus.
Milton's "Lycidas" is among the most celebrated monodies in English.
Mournful commemorative music
- threnodyMemorial song of grief
- requiemMass for the deceased
- lamentMournful expression of grief
- eulogyTribute for the dead
tribute · memorial · commemoration · homage · epitaph · remembrance · farewell · obituary
Laudatory verse form
- lyricSong's text
- verseMetered poetic passage
- stanzaPoem's line grouping
- apostropheMark showing ownership
pastoral · meter · rhyme · refrain · couplet · elegy · classical · Greek
Performance by one
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
- unaccompaniedWithout others present
- soloistUnaccompanied performer
cantata · plainchant · homophony · single voice · operatic · declamatory · lyrical · expressive
Deep emotional distress
- bereavementState following loss
- lossBeing without something
- mourningPeriod following loss
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
anguish · desolation · woe · lamentation · weeping · tears · consolation · condolence
dirge
Mournful commemorative music
eulogy · tribute · memorial · commemoration · homage · epitaph · remembrance · farewell · obituary · keening
ode
Laudatory verse form
apostrophe · pastoral · meter · rhyme · refrain · couplet · elegy · classical · Greek · Renaissance
solo
Performance by one
- ariaOperatic solo piece
- recitativeSpeechlike operatic singing
- unaccompaniedWithout others present
soloist · cantata · plainchant · homophony · single voice · operatic · declamatory · lyrical · expressive · chamber
sorrow
Deep emotional distress
- bereavementState following loss
- lossBeing without something
- mourningPeriod following loss
heartache · anguish · desolation · woe · lamentation · weeping · tears · consolation · condolence · pining
alone
Without others present
isolated · unaccompanied · individual · forsaken · bereft · desolate · lonesome · singular · sole · one voice
monodypolyphony
Simultaneous independent melodic lines
chorus · choral music · symphony · chorale · ensemble piece
monodypaean
Laudatory song or ode
celebration · hymn of praise · jubilee · encomium · wedding song
- inner monologueUnspoken personal narration
- dramatic monologuePoem as character's speech
- internal monologueUnspoken self-directed thought
- opening monologueSolo introductory address
- late night monologueHost's solo comedy segment
- villain monologueAntagonist's expository speech