noun
glee
A song for several voices without instrumental accompaniment.
The quartet sings a glee with no instruments accompanying their voices.
Etymology
The inherited word includes music and entertainment. The song sense specialized it to a part-song for several voices, keeping the musical branch of the older meaning.
More examples
- Each singer takes a different part in the glee.
- The program includes two glees and a piano sonata.
- We rehearse the glee slowly to balance the four voices.
Forms
glee · glees
Similar words
- part song
- A broader term for songs arranged in several vocal parts.
- madrigal
- A secular vocal composition, especially associated with the Renaissance.