Songs without words

[David Wake]

In classical music "song" is limited to a musical composition
featuring the human voice;  the word that generically describes any
kind of composition is "piece".  I don't know whether this distinction
was ever very widespread in general usage, but it seems to be fast
disappearing.  The usage of "song" to mean "music contained in a
single track" in software such as iTunes will doubtless accelerate
this trend.

David

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 11:29 AM, Herb Stahlke <hfwstahlke at gmail.com> wrote:
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> Poster:       Herb Stahlke <hfwstahlke at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      Re: Songs without words
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I've heard a Beethoven symphony and a chorus from the Mass in B minor
> referred to as songs.  I suppose if you don't use "song" to mean
> "musical composition," you tend to use the name of the form.  So
> Pachelbel's Canon in D would be a canon.
>
> Herb
>
> On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 5:07 AM, Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
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>> Poster:       Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
>> Subject:      Songs without words
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>>
>> For "song," the AHD4 has "a brief composition written or adapted for singing."
>>
>> I personally use the word "song" to mean a musical composition without words, such as Pachelbel's Canon in D even though I have a sense that songs should have sung lyrics.
>>
>> The AHD4 meaning therefore seems prescriptive in a way that does not reflect common usage.
>>
>> Although someone subjective, my Mac dictionary does well at walking this thin line with an additional definition: a musical composition suggestive of a song.
>>
>> FWIW
>> Benjamin Barrett
>> Seattle, WA
>>
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