What's a song cycle?

Subject: What's a song cycle?
From: Marion
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 03:38 PM

Hello all. I sometimes across the term "song cycle" on Mudcat and elsewhere. Does it have a technical meaning? I gather from the context that it's a collection of songs on the same theme, by the same songwriter - or is there more to the definition than that? (Or perhaps, less to the definition: is a song cycle necessarily all one person's work?)

Do you write song cycles?

Marion

Subject: RE: What's a song cycle?
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 04:17 PM

I have heard it applied to all of those- related songs by one composer, I believe, was the original meaning.
Examples: Sir Arnold Bax, "A Celtic Song Cycle." (One I have and enjoy).

A dictionary definition: A group of songs, unified musically or textualy.
It was popular with Germans and those who copied the idea, so the word lieder may be added to the above. The German word is Liederkreis, used by Schumann.

Subject: RE: What's a song cycle?
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 04:27 PM

The Grove Dictionary of music and musicians is more pedantic:
A composite form of vocal music consisting of a group of individually complete songs for solo or ensemble voices, with or without instrumental accompaniment.may relate a series of events, or a series of impressions, or may simply be a goup of songs unified by mood.
The texts may be by a single author or from different sources.

Liederzyklus, sangsyklus, etc., depending on language.

Some song cycles are songs without words, just the related tunes.

Subject: RE: What's a song cycle?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 07:25 PM

I dont read music but I can ride a bike.

Subject: RE: What's a song cycle?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Aug 03 - 11:58 PM

I don't think it's a song cycle unless you sing while riding your bike. Can you?

Subject: RE: What's a song cycle?
From: Benjamin
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 12:25 AM

It's been pretty well defined by some above posts. It was a very popular form in Germany during the romantic period. In my opinion, Shubert wrote the best of them. Mahler's Das Lied Von Der Erde is a great combination of a combined symphony and song cycle.

Subject: RE: What's a song cycle?
From: GUEST,BDog
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 04:57 AM

Hi Leadfins,

I'm capable of dropping off, doing either!

Brian

Subject: RE: What's a song cycle?
From: fogie
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 05:07 AM

There was a good example of one in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. You'll remember the song Raindrops keep falling on my head ;-)