This could be, but then my question is: why does the display on such keyboards call everything a "song"? Why doesn't it say "composition", or "piece", or "recording", or some other word instead?

The same question can be asked about iTunes. Why does iTunes call everything a "song", instead of using some other more inclusive word?

I am guessing here (a somewhat informed guess), but I think most of the current usage in keyboards, computers, and the internet is derived from usage in early sequencing programs and MIDI. It is probably traceable to a few poor decisions made by very few people. Researching it is probably possible, but time-consuming. The story might make for an interesting magazine article.

Why?

Because the birds outside my window do not break into arrangements. The sound of a stream breaking over rocks is not a piece. Yes song is voice, but a voice may be anything musical.

Dead notes on paper are a piece, a composition, an arrangement. Once brought to life through voice, be that an orchestra, a piano or even pebbles tumbling down a country road after a pick-up - those notes are now song.

Precision has its place but sometimes the most precise use is the colloquial.

Imagine a romantic setting – the sun's waning rays warming an ebony piano. A young woman with limpid blue eye sits at the foot of a piano. She asks her love, “play an arrangement for me darling”.

Doesn't sound quite right does it? How about “play a piece for me darling”. Eh, that just sounds slightly obscene, yes? Because we all know he must play for her, what? A song.

First of all, I don't always strive to make my piano "sing" - I'm with Bartok on that point.

But youngsters who are interested in classical music need to know the correct usage, if for no other reason than that it remains the usage in classical music. That is, you don't (and I hope, won't) see a collection of Brahms shorter piano works with the title of "Collected Shorter Songs for Piano by Brahms".

And of course, the current usage isn't retroactive, so youngsters won't be seeing it when they read older writing about music.

Yes, in the rarefied atmosphere of learning I agree students must understand general terminology. However, "song" is the one word that represents the soul of an idea - the idea of music.

"Music" as a word simply sounds too harsh ("Play music for me" seems more a command than request.) "piece" is plagued by sketchy alternative meanings, "arrangement" is too dry and "composition" completely lifeless.

Song it must be. There is no acceptable substitute. Perhaps the experts should get together to create a new and beautiful sounding musical word. One that will keep the wordsmiths' hackles down while still conveying the magic of all song.

If you hum as you play are you playing a song or a piece?

Bech

I'm looking forward to the concert I'm attending tonight of some nice songs. One of them is Rachmaninoff's 3rd Piano Concerto played by Denis Matsuev.

Or do I mean the trilogy of songs by Rachmaninoff?

Or 'Triptych' (to go high-brow)?

It's song's informal use garnering grammatical complaint that reeks of affectation and misguided proof of esoteric knowledge.

Hello,

Not the first nor the last time I will be accused of misuse. At this point in my life it's become a natural hazard born of occupation to survey with wider boundaries than most. Music is indeed a beautiful word "inspired by the muse". Now exactly which muse are we discussing?

I entirely support consistent music theory using "song" as pertaining only to pieces involving human voice. It's song's informal use garnering grammatical complaint that reeks of affectation and misguided proof of esoteric knowledge.

As a music student I fully support proper definition and use in a learning environment. As a member of the general public I keep my mouth shut if someone nearby says they enjoyed "all the songs" where there were none.

I believe as a teacher you are correct for the right reasons in answering the original thread question.

I also believe those complaining about the use of song=any music being a no-excuses grammatical error need to, well...I believe the old saying is "Lighten up Francis".

Kind regards,

Tararex

I fail to see why classical pianists are such fans of the word "piece." This has unpleasant connotations in English. Couldn't they have come up with better word?

I fail to see why classical pianists are such fans of the word "piece." This has unpleasant connotations in English. Couldn't they have come up with better word?

My nagging succeeded in making them aware of correct speech and the implications of speaking poorly. It also gave them a chameleon-like tool to use in certain social situations.

If you hum as you play are you playing a song or a piece?

Bech