Editing Song

{{short description|Musical composition for human voice with pitches and melodies}}
{{About|musical composition with vocals|the activity of producing song|Singing|other uses}}
{{technical reasons|Song #|the song by Serebro|Song Number 1|the song by Blur|Song 2|the single by Stone Sour|Song 3||prefix=y}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
[[File:Billie Holiday, Downbeat, New York, N.Y., ca. Feb. 1947 (William P. Gottlieb 04251).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|American jazz singer and songwriter [[Billie Holiday]] in New York City in 1947]]
A '''song''' is a [[musical composition]] performed by the [[human voice]]. The voice often carries the [[melody]] (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a [[Song structure|structure]], such as the common [[ABA form]], and are usually made of sections that are repeated or performed with variation later. A song without [[Musical instrument|instruments]] is said to be [[a cappella]].

Written words created specifically for music, or for which music is specifically created, are called [[lyrics]]. If a pre-existing poem is set to composed music in the classical tradition, it is called an [[art song]]. Songs that are sung on repeated pitches without distinct contours and patterns that rise and fall are called [[chant]]s. Songs composed in a simple style that are learned informally by ear are often referred to as [[folk song]]s. Songs composed for the [[mass market]], designed to be sung by professional singers who sell their recordings or live shows, are called [[popular song]]s. These songs, which have broad appeal, are often composed by professional songwriters, composers, and lyricists; art songs are composed by trained classical composers for concert or recital performances. Songs are performed in [[Music studio|studios]] and an [[Music recording|audio recording]] is made, or they are performed live for audience. (In some cases a song may be performed live and simultaneously recorded.) Songs may also appear in theatre (e.g., [[opera]]), films and TV shows.

A song may be for a solo singer, a lead singer supported by [[background singer]]s, a [[duet]], [[trio (music)|trio]], or larger ensemble involving [[part song|more voices]] singing in [[vocal harmony|harmony]], although the term is generally not used for large classical music vocal forms including opera and [[oratorio]], which use terms such as [[aria]] and [[recitative]] instead.<ref name="Grove">Luise Eitel Peake. 1980. "Song". ''[[The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians]]'', sixth edition, 20 vols., edited by Stanley Sadie, Vol. 17: 510–23. London: Macmillan Publishers; New York: Grove's Dictionaries. {{ISBN|1-56159-174-2}}.</ref> A song can be sung without accompaniment by instrumentalists ([[a cappella]]) or accompanied by instruments. In popular music, a singer may perform with an acoustic guitarist, pianist, organist, accordionist, or a [[backing band]]. In jazz, a singer may perform with a single pianist, a small combo (such as a trio or quartet), or with a [[big band]]. A Classical singer may perform with a single pianist, a small ensemble, or an orchestra. In jazz and blues, singers often learn songs by ear and they may improvise some melody lines. In Classical music, melodies are written by composers in sheet music format, so singers learn to read music.

Songs with more than one voice to a part singing in [[polyphony]] or [[harmony vocals|harmony]] are considered [[choir|choral]] works. Songs can be broadly divided into many different forms and types, depending on the criteria used. Through [[Semantic change|semantic widening]], a [[Word sense|broader sense]] of the word "song" may refer to [[instrumental]]s, such as the 19th century ''[[Songs Without Words]]'' pieces for solo piano.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/rlyrs-actual-existence-album-stream/ |publisher=Vice |title=RLYR's 'Actual Existence' Is 40 Minutes of Beautiful Chaos|last1=Ozzi|first1=Dan |date=2018-04-11|website=Noisey|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.treblezine.com/el-ten-eleven-bankers-hill-review|title=El Ten Eleven : Banker's Hill Eleven|last=Lewis |first=William |date=2018-08-08|website=treble|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509154444/https://www.treblezine.com/el-ten-eleven-bankers-hill-review/ |archive-date= May 9, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tokafi.com/15questions/interview-jasper-tx/ |first1=Tobias |last1=Fischer |title=Interview with Jasper TX {{!}} Sweden Experimental interviews|website= tokafi.com|access-date=2019-01-26}}</ref>

==Genres==

===Art===
{{main|Art song}}
Art songs are songs created for performance by classical artists, often with piano or other instrumental accompaniment, although they can be sung solo. Art songs require strong vocal technique, an understanding of language, diction, and poetry for interpretation. Though such singers may also perform popular or folk songs on their programs, these characteristics and the use of poetry are what distinguish art songs from popular songs. Art songs are a tradition from most European countries, and now other countries with classical music traditions. German-speaking communities use the term [[art song]] ("Kunstlied") to distinguish so-called serious compositions from [[folk song]]s (''[[Volkslied]]''). The lyrics are often written by a poet or lyricist and the music separately by a composer. Art songs may be more [[form (music)|form]]ally complicated than popular or folk songs, though many early Lieder by the likes of [[Franz Schubert]] are in simple [[strophic form]]. The accompaniment of European art songs is considered as an important part of the composition. Some art songs are so revered that they take on characteristics of national identification.

Art songs emerge from the tradition of singing romantic [[Courtly love|love songs]], often to an ideal or imaginary person and from religious songs. The [[troubadour]]s and bards of Europe began the documented tradition of romantic songs, continued by the Elizabethan lutenists. Some of the earliest art songs are found in the music of [[Henry Purcell]]. The tradition of the romance, a love song with a flowing accompaniment, often in triple meter, entered opera in the 19th century and spread from there throughout Europe. It expanded into [[popular music]] and became one of the underpinnings of popular songs. While a romance generally has a simple accompaniment, art songs tend to have complicated, sophisticated accompaniments that underpin, embellish, illustrate or provide contrast to the voice. Sometimes the accompaniment performer has the melody, while the voice sings a more dramatic part.

===Folk===
{{main|Folk music}}
Folk songs are songs of often anonymous origin (or are [[public domain]]) that are transmitted [[Oral tradition|orally]]. They are frequently a major aspect of national or cultural [[identity (social science)|identity]]. Art songs often approach the status of folk songs when people forget who the author was. Folk songs are also frequently transmitted non-orally (that is, as [[sheet music]]), especially in the modern era. Folk songs exist in almost every culture. The German term ''Volkslied'' was coined in the late 18th century, in the process of collecting older songs and writing new ones. Popular songs may eventually become [[Folk music|folk song]]s by the same process of detachment from their source. Folk songs are more or less in the public domain by definition, though there are many folk song entertainers who publish and record copyrighted original material. This tradition led also to the singer-songwriter style of performing, where an artist has written [[confessional poetry]] or personal statements and sings them set to music, most often with guitar accompaniment.

There are many genres of popular songs, including [[torch song]]s, [[ballad]]s, [[novelty song]]s, [[anthem]]s, rock, blues and soul songs as well as indie music. Other commercial genres include [[rapping]]. Folk songs include ballads, [[lullaby|lullabies]], [[love song]]s, mourning songs, dance songs, [[work song]]s, [[ritual]] songs and many more.

====Sporting====
A sporting song is a folk song that celebrates [[fox hunting]], [[horse racing]], [[gambling]] and other recreations.

Although songs about boxers and successful racehorses were common in the nineteenth century, few are performed by current singers. In particular, fox-hunting is considered [[political correctness|politically incorrect]]. The most famous song about a foxhunter, "[[D'ye ken John Peel]]" was included in ''[[The National Song Book]]'' in 1906 and is now often heard as a marching tune. [[A. L. Lloyd]] recorded two EPs of sporting ballads; "Bold Sportsmen All" (1958) and "Gamblers and Sporting Blades (Songs of the Ring and the Racecourse)" (1962). The [[High Level Ranters]] and Martin Wyndham-Read recorded an album called "English Sporting Ballads" in 1977. ''[[The Prospect Before Us]]'' (1976) by [[The Albion Country Band|The Albion Dance Band]] contains two rarely heard hunting songs.

===Lute===
{{main|Lute song}}
The term lute song is given to a music style from the late 16th century to early 17th century, late Renaissance to early Baroque, that was predominantly in England and France. Lute songs were generally in strophic form or verse repeating with a homophonic texture. The composition was written for a solo voice with an accompaniment, usually the lute. It was not uncommon for other forms of accompaniments such as bass viol or other string instruments, and could also be written for more voices. The composition could be performed either solo or with a small group of instruments.

===Part===
{{main|Part song}}
A part song, part-song or partsong is a form of [[choral music]] that consists of a [[secular]] (vs. ecclesiastical) song written or arranged for several [[voice type|vocal parts]]. Part songs are commonly sung by an [[SATB]] choir, but sometimes for an all-male or all-female ensemble.<ref name="baker">{{cite book|last=Baker|title=A Dictionary of Musical Terms|publisher=Read Books|year=2007|isbn=978-1-4067-6292-1}}</ref>

===Patter===
{{main|Patter song}}
The patter song is characterized by a moderately fast to very fast [[tempo]] with a rapid succession of rhythmic patterns in which each syllable of text corresponds to one note. It is a staple of [[comic opera]], especially [[Gilbert and Sullivan]], but it has also been used in [[musical theatre|musicals]] and elsewhere.<ref name=OnMusic>[http://dictionary.onmusic.org/terms/2507-patter_song "Patter song"], ''OnMusic Dictionary'', Connect For Education, Inc, accessed 2 May 2014</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Music}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Wikisource}}
{{Commons category|Songs}}
* [[Air (music)]]
* [[Animal song]]
** [[Bird vocalization]]
** [[Whale song]]
** [[Zoomusicology]]
* [[Canticle]]
* [[Cantus firmus]]
* [[Hymn]]
* [[Lists of songs]]
* [[Madrigal]]
* [[Sung poetry]]
* [[Theme music]]
* [[Vocal music]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Song | volume= 25 |last1= Gosse |first1= Edmund |author1-link= Edmund Gosse| last2= Gadow |first2= Hans Friedrich |author2-link= Hans Friedrich Gadow |pages = 400&ndash;414 |short = 1}}
*Marcello Sorce Keller (1984), "The Problem of Classification in Folksong Research: A Short History", ''Folklore'' XCV, no. 1, 100–104.
*Jean Nicolas De Surmont (2017), ''From Vocal Poetry to Song, Toward a Theory of Song Objects'' with a foreword by Geoff Stahl, Stuttgart, Ibidem.
*Jean Nicolas De Surmont: From Vocal Poetry to Song. Towards a Theory of Song Objects. Tr. Anastasija Ropa, with a foreword by Geoff Stahl. Stuttgart: Ibidem, 2017. {{ISBN|978383821072-8}}. 175 pages.

{{Music topics}}
{{Songwriting}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Songs| ]]
[[Category:Musical compositions]]
[[Category:Musical form]]
[[Category:Ritual]]