In the Western classical music tradition, Lied (pronounced LEED or LEET in English, and [liːt] in German) is a term for music written to accompany poetry. The word Lied can refer to any type of song in German, but in English, it is often used the same as “art song” to describe songs inspired by this tradition in other languages. The poems used in Lieder often focus on themes like nature or romantic love.
A chanson is a type of French song that focuses on words or lyrics. The word is often used in English to describe two main types of music: first, the non-religious songs with multiple melodies from the late medieval and Renaissance periods, and second, a style of French pop music that began in the 1950s and 1960s. This genre started with simple songs written by troubadours and trouvères, but early examples of songs with multiple melodies were rare.
A madrigal is a type of non-religious vocal music that was popular during the Renaissance (15th–16th centuries) and early Baroque (1580–1650) periods. Some European composers later revisited this style. The polyphonic madrigal is sung without instruments, and the number of voices ranges from two to eight, though it most often includes three to six voices.
In Western classical music, a motet is a type of vocal music that has many different forms and styles, from the medieval period to today. During the Renaissance, the motet was one of the most important types of music that used multiple independent melodies. According to Margaret Bent, an English music expert, a motet can be defined as “a musical piece with multiple parts and words,” a description that applies from the 13th century until the late 16th century and beyond.
A cantata is a musical piece that includes singing and instruments. It usually has several parts and often includes a choir. The meaning of the word “cantata” has changed over time.
An oratorio is a musical piece with a story or drama written for a choir, solo singers, and an instrumental group. It is similar to opera because both use a choir, soloists, an instrumental group, and solo songs. However, opera is a form of musical theater that includes stage sets, costumes, and actors performing on stage.
A Gesamtkunstwerk (pronounced “gə-zamt-koonst-virk”) is a type of artwork that uses many different kinds of art, such as music, dance, and visual art, or tries to use them all. The word comes from German and is now used in English to describe a special idea in the study of art.
Musical theatre is a type of play that combines songs, spoken words, acting, and dancing. The story and emotions, like humor, sadness, love, and anger, are shown through words, music, movement, and other parts of the performance. Even though musical theatre is similar to other types of plays, like opera and dance, it is different because music is as important as the words, movement, and other parts.
Operetta is a type of theatre and a form of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs, and dances. It is lighter than opera in its music, the size of the orchestra, and the length of the performance.
Opera is a type of Western theater where music plays a key role, and actors are singers. An “opera” (from the Italian word for “work”) is usually created by a composer and a librettist, who writes the story and lyrics. It combines many art forms, such as acting, scenery, costumes, and sometimes dance.