partsongs
Partsongs are vocal compositions for several independent voice parts, typically intended to be sung with little or no instrumental accompaniment. They are usually written for three to five parts and can be performed by mixed voices or by male or female choirs. The music balances the parts, ranging from homophonic textures where voices move together to more polyphonic sections with imitative or independent lines.
The form has roots in Renaissance polyphony, but the concept of a defined partsong flourished in the
Musically, partsongs tend to be concise, often two to four minutes in length. They may be strophic,
Performance practice usually favors a cappella presentation, but some settings are accompanied by piano or a