Definition of "art song"

Although effective rendition of an art song requires great skill on the part of the singer, virtuosity for its own sake is generally eschewed. Hence one seldom finds florid passages or excessive ornamentation. This is especially true of the French […]

1980, Barbara Meister, An introduction to the art song, Crescendo

"Art song" is our answer to the German Lied or the French mélodie, which implies a through-written recital song as distinct from a chanson. A definition is required, and especially so for American song, because when all is said and done […]

1986, Alan Blyth, Song on Record:, Cambridge University Press, page 246

While their worth is unquestionable, these arias do not equate in form or intention with the classically defined art song. Yet, art song does exist in Italy in a large body of works known as liriche da camera — compositions for solo voice and piano […]

1989, Ruth C. Lakeway, Robert Charles White, Italian Art Song