Threnodia

Threnody, also spelled threnodia, is a term used in literature and music to denote a lament for the dead or a commemorative piece of mourning. In poetry, a threnody is typically a lament or elegiac poem addressed to the deceased or to the memory of a loss. In music, a threnody refers to a work intended to evoke sorrow or tribute, often as an instrumental or vocal elegy. The word derives from the Greek threnodía, from threnos “dirge” and -oide “song,” and entered English via Latin during the early modern period. The spelling threnodia appears in some languages and scholarly works, but threnody is the more common form in English.

In practice, threnodies range from solemn, traditional memorials to experimental, avant-garde pieces. A well-known modern example is Penderecki's Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima (1960), a landmark for 52 string players that uses extended textures and non-traditional notation to convey collective mourning. In poetry, threnodies have appeared throughout history as funeral or commemorative works, sometimes blending with elegy or ode forms.

See also: elegy, dirge, lament, memorial piece.