art song

American  

noun

1. a song intended primarily to be sung in recital, typically set to a poem, and having subtly interdependent vocal and piano parts.

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Etymology

Origin of art song

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

art song

For a long time, “Ol’ Man River” became the go-to American art song for concert singers, but it also has a rich history of jazz and swing interpretations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

The art of the so-called art song is a thriving business.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2026

The Weimar programs will run from January until May and include jazz, cabaret and art song in addition to classical and opera.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 28, 2023

Ware brings a theatrical sensibility to that song, matching Schultz’s ease as an art song raconteur, as in Rebecca Clarke’s “The Seal Man.”

From New York Times ● Apr. 28, 2022

Especially also is this true in the realm of lyric song, for, as everybody knows, he practically created the art song as we know and love it.

From Beacon Lights of History, Volume 14 The New Era; A Supplementary Volume, by Recent Writers, as Set Forth in the Preface and Table of Contents by Lord, John