ˈpart-ˌsong
[f. part n. 10 + song.]
A song for three or more voice-parts, usually without accompaniment, and in simple harmony (not with the parts independent as in the glee, or contrapuntally treated as in the madrigal).
| [1597 J. Dowland (title) The first Booke of Songes or Ayres of fowre partes with Tableture for the Lute. 1698 Purcell Orpheus Britann. 39 A Two Part Song, in Epsome-Wells.] 1850 (title) Novello's Part-Song Book..No. 1. Ibid. p. i, It is intended to select some of the most striking of these German choruses and part-songs, for insertion. 1894 Hall Caine Manxman iv. vi. 221 He went over to the piano and they sang a part song. |