An art song is a type of Western music that uses one voice and piano accompaniment. It is usually part of the classical music tradition. The term "art song" can also describe a group of similar songs, such as the "art song repertoire." An art song is often based on a poem or text and is meant to be performed in concerts or formal events like recitals. Some vocal music pieces are clearly art songs, but others are harder to classify. For example, a wordless vocal piece created by a classical composer may be called an art song or not, depending on the situation.

Other factors help define art songs:

Languages and nationalities

Art songs are written in many languages and have different names in different countries. The most well-known tradition of art songs comes from Germany, where they are called Lieder. In France, the term mélodie is used for art songs, while other French songs are called chansons. In Spain, the word canción and in Italy, canzone, are used for all kinds of songs, not just art songs.

Form

The composer's musical style and how they interpret the words in a poem often influence the structure of an art song. When all the verses of a poem are sung with the same music, the song is called strophic. Folk song arrangements are often strophic. In some cases, repeating the same music can create a special effect when the words change, or when a repeated, almost hypnotic feeling is intended. Many songs in Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin are examples of this. If the main melody stays the same but the background music changes for each verse, the song is called a "modified strophic" song. In contrast, songs where each part of the text has new, different music are called through-composed. Most through-composed songs include some repeated musical elements. Many art songs use a structure called ABA form (also called "song form" or "ternary form"), which includes a first section of music, a different middle section, and then a return to the first section's music. Sometimes, when the first section returns, the composer may make small changes to the music.

Performance and performers

Performing art songs in a recital requires special skills from both the singer and the pianist. The close connection between the performers, which is rare in other types of music, means they must share the most delicate and fleeting emotions from the poem and music with the audience. The singer and pianist must agree on every detail of the performance to work as a unified team, making art song performances one of the most sensitive types of teamwork. The pianist must match the mood and character shown by the singer. While many classical singers begin successful careers as opera soloists, several well-known singers today have built their careers mainly by performing art songs, including Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Thomas Quasthoff, Ian Bostridge, Matthias Goerne, Wolfgang Holzmair, Susan Graham, and Elly Ameling. Pianists also specialize in playing art songs with singers. Gerald Moore, Geoffrey Parsons, Graham Johnson, Dalton Baldwin, Hartmut Höll, and Martin Katz are six pianists who focus on accompanying art song performances. The piano parts in art songs can be very complex, so the pianist is not just a supporting role but an equal partner with the singer. Because of this, some pianists who perform art song recitals call themselves "collaborative pianists" instead of accompanists.

Composers

• George Enescu
• Dinu Lipatti
• Pascal Bentoiu
• Irina Hasnaș
• Felicia Donceanu

In Portuguese (all Brazilian):
• Franz Liszt – Hungary (many of his songs use texts from other European countries, such as France and Germany)
• Antonín Dvořák – Bohemia
• Leoš Janáček – Bohemia (Czechoslovakia)
• Béla Bartók – Hungary
• Zoltán Kodály – Hungary
• Frédéric Chopin – Poland
• Stanisław Moniuszko – Poland
• Eugen Suchoň – Slovakia
• Mykola Lysenko – Ukraine
• Mykola Leontovych – Ukraine

• Hugo Alfvén – Sweden
• Edvard Grieg – Norway (used German, Norse, and Danish poetry in his works)
• Yrjö Kilpinen – Finland
• Carl Nielsen – Denmark
• Leevi Madetoja – Finland
• Ture Rangström – Sweden
• Jean Sibelius – Finland
• Wilhelm Stenhammar – Sweden

• Dilys Elwyn-Edwards
• Morfydd Llwyn Owen
• Gareth Glyn
• Mansel Thomas
• Meirion Williams

• Huang Zi – China
• Nicanor Abelardo – Philippines
• Ananda Sukarlan – Indonesia
• Byambasuren Sharav – Mongolia

• Jellmar Ponticha
• Stephanus Le Roux Marais

• Iyad Kanaan – Lebanon