The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #57615   Message #907166
Posted By: Nigel Parsons
11-Mar-03 - 06:06 AM
Thread Name: What, if anything, is a ballad?
Subject: RE: What, if anything, is a ballad?
Of course, the two definitions above are somewhat contradictory.
1. A song intended as the accompaniment to a dance; the tune to which the song is sung
2. a narrative composition in rhythmic verse suitable for singing.

If the song tells a story then dancing to the music will make it difficult to listen to. So I feel the original meaning (and derivation) have (for most people) become obsolete.

Nigel