Song
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A '''song''' is a [[music]]al [[musical composition|composition]]. Songs contain vocal parts that are performed, 'sung,' and generally feature [[word]]s ([[lyrics]]), commonly followed by other [[musical instrument]]s (exceptions would be [[acappella]] and [[scat singing|scat]] songs). The words of songs are typically of a [[poetry|poetic]], [[rhyme|rhyming]] nature, although they may be [[religion|religious]] [[Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible#Verses|verses]] or free [[prose]]. The words are the lyrics.
Songs are typically for a solo [[singer]], though there may also be a [[duet]], [[trio (music)|trio]], or more voices (works with more than one voice to a part, however, are considered [[choir|choral]]). Songs can be broadly divided into many different forms, depending on the criteria used. One division is between "[[art]] songs", "[[popular music]] songs", and "[[folk music|folk songs]]". Other common methods of [[Categorization|classification]] are by purpose ([[sacred]] vs [[secular]]), by [[music genre|style]] ([[dance]], [[ballad]], [[Lied]]er, etc), or by time of origin ([[Renaissance]], [[Contemporary music|Contemporary]], etc).
Colloquially, ''song'' is sometimes used as [[slang]] to refer to any music composition, even those without vocals. In [[European classical music]], jazz, brass band, popular music, and many other musical styles however, this usage is considered incorrect. "Song" should only be used to describe a composition for the human vocals. In music styles that are predominantly vocal-based, a composition without vocals is often called an ''[[instrumental]]''. A musical piece that may be either with or without vocals can be called a [[melody]], a [[tune]], or a [[musical composition|composition]].
==Cultural types==
===Art songs===
'''Art songs''' are songs created for performance in their own right, or for the purposes of a European upper class, usually with [[piano]] accompaniment, although they can also have other types of accompaniment such as an [[orchestra]] or [[string quartet]], and are always [[notation|notated]]. Generally they have an identified [[author]](s) and require voice [[training]] for acceptable performances. The [[German language|German]]-speaking [[community|communities]] to refer to the serious [[art song]], whereas in German-speaking communities the word "Kunstlied" (plural: "Kunstlieder") is used to distinguish [[art song]] from folk song ("Volkslied"). The lyrics are often written by a 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]]. They are often important to national identity.
Art songs feature in many European cultures, including but not limited to: [[Russian language|Russian]] (romansy), [[Dutch language|Dutch]] (lied), [[Italian language|Italian]] (canzoni), [[French language|French]] (mélodies), [[Scandinavian language|Scandinavian]] (sånger), [[Spanish language|Spanish]] (canciones). There are also highly regarded British and [[American art songs]] in the English language. Cultures outside of Europe may have what they consider to be a classical music tradition, such as India, and thus feature art songs. The accompaniment of pieces of this period is considered as an important part of the composition. The art song of this period is often a duet in which the vocalist and accompanist share in interpretive importance. The pieces were most often written to be performed in a home setting although today the works enjoy popularity as concert pieces. The emergence of poetry during this era was much of what inspired the creation of these pieces by Brahms, Schumann, Schubert and other period composers. These composers set poems in their native language. Many works were inspired by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] and [[Heinrich Heine]]. Another method would be to write new music for each stanza to create a unique form, this was [[through-composed form]] known in German as ''durchkomponiert''. A combination of both of these techniques in a single setting was called a [[modified strophic form]]. Often romantic art songs sharing similar elements were grouped as a [[song cycle]]. (Kamien, 217–18)
===Folk songs===
'''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, if not all, culture(s). For more on folk songs, see [[Folk music]].
===Popular songs===
Modern '''popular songs''' are typically distributed as recordings, and are played on the [[radio]], though all other [[mass media]] that have audio capabilities are involved. Their relative popularity is inferred from commercially significant [[Music recording sales certification|sales of recordings]], [[Audience measurement|ratings]] of stations and networks that play them, and [[Ticket (admission)|ticket]] sales for [[concert]]s by the recording artists. A popular song can become a modern folk song when members of the public who learn to sing it from the recorded version teach their version to others. Popular songs may be called '''pop songs''' for short, although pop songs or [[pop music]] may instead be considered a more commercially popular genre of [[popular music]] as a whole.
For a list of influential popular songs, see:
*[[The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll]]
== References ==
# Middleton, Richard (1990/2002). ''Studying Popular Music''. Philadelphia: Open University Press. ISBN 0335152759.
# Kamien, Roger. ''Music : An Appreciation''. Mcgraw-Hill College; 3rd edition (August 1, 1997) ISBN 0070365210
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==External links==
'''Resources for Songwriters and Music Publishers'''
* [http://www.cuesheet.net Cuesheet - a film and TV tip sheet]
*[http://www.music.paistanway.com Extrem Music]
* [http://www.songwritingfever.com/songwritingtips/getstarted.html Song Structure and Components]
* [http://www.indie911.com Indie 911 - Tip sheet for artists and songwriters]
* [http://www.myhitfactory.com myHitFactory - Tip sheet for music publishers and songwriters]
* [http://www.notc.com New On The Charts - research service and tip sheet]
* [http://www.americansongwriter.com/ American Songwriter Magazine] Founded in 1984, bi-monthly publication celebrating the craft and business of songwriting
'''Major Music Publishers'''
* [http://www.emimusicpub.com EMI Music Publishing]
* [http://www.warnerchappell.com Warner Chappell]
* [http://www.sonyatv.com Sony ATV Music Publishing]
* [http://www.umusicpub.com/ Universal Music Publishing]
'''Major Independent Music Publishers'''
* [http://www.peermusic.com Peer Music Publishing]
* [http://www.bugmusic.com Bug Music Publishing]
* [http://www.chrysalismusic.co.uk Chrysalis Music Publishing]
* [http://www.kobaltmusic.com Kobalt Music Group]
* [http://www.pigfactory.com Pigfactory Music Publishing]
'''Performing Rights Societies in the USA'''
* [http://www.bmi.com BMI]
* [http://www.ascap.com ASCAP]
* [http://www.sesac.com SESAC]
'''Music Entertainment'''
* [http://www.deejaylink.com Music links and charts]
* [http://www.voteyoursong.com Vote for your best song of all the times]
== See also ==
*[[Song structure (popular music)]]
{{wikiquote}}
{{Music portal}}
* [[Vocal music]]
* [[Animal]]
* [[Animal song]]: [[bird song]], [[whale song]], [[zoomusicology]]
* [[:Category:Musical forms]]
[[Category:Songs| ]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[ar:أغنية]]
[[arc:ܙܡܝܪܬܐ]]
[[az:Mahnı]]
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[[da:Sang]]
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[[el:Τραγούδι]]
[[es:Canción]]
[[eo:Kanto]]
[[fa:ترانه]]
[[fr:Chanson]]
[[ka:სიმღერა]]
[[ko:노래]]
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[[ia:Canto]]
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[[it:Canzone (musica)]]
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[[pt:Canção]]
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[[ru:Песня]]
[[sq:Kënga]]
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[[fi:Laulu (teos)]]
[[sv:Sång]]
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[[uk:Пісня]]
[[wa:Tchanson]]
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