what does `rhapsody` mean there are a number of songs named like bohemian rhapsody and rhapsody in blue but i never actually thought about before.

hello does anyone have any ideas

I looked up on www.dictionary.com and this came out

rhapsody

Music. A usually instrumental composition of irregular form that often incorporates improvisation.

I kinda get what it means, not really though!

i always think of some jig when i see the word...and i start dancing...i don`t htink that helped at all. sorry dude

i understand how improvisation comes into `rhapsody in blue` i should start looking at the dictionary more and stop being lazy. now where did i put that dictionary.......

Well actually, it`s not suppose to mean anything. Except a short, romantic piece that`s rather free inexpression and form.
Alot of terms just became `short romantic piece` during the Romantic peroid.
For instance, the term Intermezzo. This term has undergone an interesting `evolution`.
It used to mean an interlude/short act in a comic opera... then it became a dish(salad, i think if I didn`t remember wrongly ), then it evolved into a short romantic piece during Brahms`s time.

This is from a music dictonary-
Strictly, from the ancient greek usage, the recitation of parts of an epic poem.In music the term has come to mean a composition in one continuous movement often based on popular national or folk melodies.Thus Liszt`s `Hungarian Rhapsodies`, Standford`s `Irish Rhaspodies`, Vaughan`s Willam`s `Norfolk Rhapsody`.Delius`s `Brigg Fair`, variations on an English folk-song, is subtitled `An English Rhapsody`, and Rachmaninov`s variations on a caprice by Paganini are called `Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini`.Brahms used the term for works for solo piano and for his `Alto Rhapsody`, a setting for voices, malen chorus and orchestra of verses by Goethe.Gershwin usec the term for his `Rhapsody in Blue` and Chabrier`s `Espana` is a Spanish rhaspody.
Hope this helped!

you know, Liszt composed 15 Hungarian Rhapsodies for solo piano that are free in style (and extremely hard to play) The music don`t really follow a specific form...(at least I don`t think so)

Rhapsody also means to be erratic, unpredictible, and very free in spirit. Kinda fitting as that is my name!!!!!!!!!

yo i dont kno