What's with all the "song" misnomering around here?

[fiasco]

Why do people continue to call instumental pieces songs?  Hard to take someone seriously when they call a ballade or an etude a song.  But if they play it brilliantly, I guess they could call it a condominium and it wouldn't really matter.

[lau]

well how are they suppose to know? I think the only people that really say that are people that are on forums like this or are in school for music. The music teacher at my school always calls our peices songs.

[thalberg]

Why do people continue to call instumental pieces songs?  Hard to take someone seriously when they call a ballade or an etude a song.  But if they play it brilliantly, I guess they could call it a condominium and it wouldn't really matter.

Yep.  Instrumental pieces are songs.  Recitals are concerts.  A DMA is a PhD.  A recital document is a dissertation.  Prokofiev is classical music.  Beethoven was born deaf.  We should start a thread about common misnomering we experience.

[invictious]

My favorite song is Rach piano concerto no.2

[counterpoint]

Beethoven was born deaf. 

ROFLMAO   

[allthumbs]

Why do people continue to call instumental pieces songs?  Hard to take someone seriously when they call a ballade or an etude a song.  But if they play it brilliantly, I guess they could call it a condominium and it wouldn't really matter.

I suppose the confusion has to do with the fact that both songs and pieces have a melody line. One is sung and the other is played.


allthumbs

[counterpoint]

One is sung and the other is played.

Yes, they are "Lieder ohne Worte"   

and symphonies are operas without singers 

[thalberg]

ROFLMAO   

Many people have said that to me--that Beethoven was born deaf!  It's funny!

I like what Voltaire said:  That which is too stupid to be spoken is sung.

[minor9th]

well how are they suppose to know? I think the only people that really say that are people that are on forums like this or are in school for music. The music teacher at my school always calls our peices songs.

You need a more informed teacher.  The words "motor" and "engine" are not interchangeable--nor are "song" or "piece."

[quantum]

The music industry and how it labels its music must have something to do with this. 

Eg: Download "songs" to your Ipod.  Categorizing music as a "song" by "artist".  etc.

I juzt learnz this zong called 4'33.  W00t!