part-songn.
/ˈpɑːtsɒŋ/, U.S. /ˈpɑrtˌsɔŋ/, /ˈpɑrtˌsɑŋ/ Music.
A song for a number of voices (usually three or more), frequently without accompaniment.In strict sense, part-song designates a song with parts in simple harmony (not with parts independent as in the glee, or contrapuntally treated as in the madrigal); however, the term is often applied more widely.
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ballett1595
part-song1731
1597 J. Dowland (title) The firste booke of songes or ayres of fowre partes with tableture for the lute.
a1695 H. Purcell Orpheus Britannicus (1698) 39 A Two Part Song, in Epsome-Wells.]
1731 E. Roome et al. Brome's Jovial Crew ii. ii. 25 Let us sing the Part-Song that I made for you, that which contains all our Characters, I mean those we had in better Times.
1850 Novello's Part-Song Bk. No. 1. p. i It is intended to select some of the most striking of these German choruses and part-songs, for insertion.
1894 H. Caine Manxman iv. vi. 221 He went over to the piano and they sang a part song.
1930 Speculum 5 215 The first theme of success..is..abundantly represented in the part-songs and bergeries of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
1955 Times 5 Sept. 3/4 Sentimental interpretation of small part-songs of nugatory musical merit.
1988 Music & Lett. 69 552 In one of his last letters..he reaffirmed his faith in Elgar: he wrote of the partsongs with an insight that was to remain rare where they were concerned for many years.
2002 New Yorker 4 Nov. 34/1 They sing German part-songs from the Romantic era.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1731