A '''musical setting''' is a musical composition that is written on the basis of a literary work. The literary work is said to be ''set'', or adapted, ''to music''. Musical settings include choral music and other vocal music.<ref>[http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/setting Definition] Cambridge dictionary</ref> A musical setting is made to particular words, such as poems.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120721021747/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/setting Definition] Oxford dictionary</ref> By contrast, a musical arrangement is a musical reconceptualization of a previously composed work, rather than a brand new piece of music. An arrangement often refers to a change in medium or style and can be instrumental, not necessarily vocal music.<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/36011/arrangement Arrangement], Encyclopædia Britannica online</ref>
Texts commonly used in choral settings include the mass and the requiem in Western Christianity, and the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the All-night vigil in Eastern Christianity. Examples include Mozart's Great Mass, and Leontovych's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.
A poem that has been set to music is known as an art song<ref>{{citation | last = Randel | first = Don Michael | year = 2003 | title = The Harvard Dictionary of Music | publisher = Harvard University Press | page = 61 | isbn = 0-674-01163-5 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=02rFSecPhEsC&pg=PA61 | accessdate = 2012-10-22}}</ref> or Lied (German variant). Composers known for their art songs include Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann.
==Some notable settings== *George Frideric Handel's setting of ''Zadok the Priest'' (1721) *Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's setting of ''Ave verum corpus'' (1791) *Franz Schubert's setting of Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart's poem, ''Die Forelle'', "The Trout" (1817) *Giuseppe Verdi's setting of the Requiem Mass (1874) *Hubert Parry's setting of William Blake's poem ''And did those feet in ancient time'', also known as "Jerusalem" (1916)
==See also== *List of songs based on poems *Church music *Contrafactum
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Music topics}}
Category:Music based on works Category:Musical composition
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