episode – First a Greek dialogue between two songs, it is from eis, “into,” and hodos, “way.” More…
lyric poetry – Characterized by an expression of the poet’s personal feelings—and originally descriptive of songs accompanied by the lyre (examples are John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley). More…
melodrama – Meaning “song play,” it has a Greek origin—from melos, “music, song”—and it started out as a sensational play interspersed with songs. More…
vaudeville – Comes from a French composer calling his songs “chanson du Vau de vire”—”song of the valley of Vire (in Normandy)”—later shortened to “vau de ville.” More…