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

Celebrate Native American culture through art, song, dance, performances, food and more at Indigenous People Festival, presented in partnership by Seattle Center Festál and the Seattle Indian Health Board.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2022

As Kaufmann pointed out at the outset of the evening — which he dedicated to the art of the art song itself — when it comes to lieder, “there is no before and no after.”

From Washington Post ● Oct. 18, 2021

Almost all folk-music, indeed, exacts a vocal method of its interpreter quite distinct from that of the art song.

From The Merry-Go-Round by Van Vechten, Carl