rhapsody

n., pl., -dies.

1. Exalted or excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing.
2. A literary work written in an impassioned or exalted style.
3. A state of elated bliss; ecstasy.
4. Music. A usually instrumental composition of irregular form that often incorporates improvisation.
5. An ancient Greek epic poem or a portion of one suitable for uninterrupted recitation.

[Latin rhapsōdia, section of an epic poem, from Greek rhapsōidiā, from rhapsōidein, to recite poems : rhaptein, rhaps-, to sew + aoidē, ōidē, song.]

(1) A subscription-based online music service from RealNetworks that gives users unlimited access to a vast library of major and independent label music. Within a single interface, Rhapsody provides access to streaming music, Internet radio and extensive music information and recommendations. Subscribers can also buy songs and burn full albums or custom mix CDs of favorite tunes. As with other music services such as iTunes, Rhapsody offers the ability to browse its music library by Artist, Title, Composer, Album or Track. Rhapsody, launched in late 2001, can be purchased through RealNetworks or distribution partners.

(2) The code name given to a next-generation operating system from Apple that eventually evolved into Mac OS X. Rhapsody was a Unix-based operating system that supported the Mac OS (Blue Box) and OpenStep (Yellow Box) from NeXT. See Mac OS X, Yellow Box and NeXT.

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Term borrowed from ancient Greek epic poetry, first used as a musical title by Tomá141;ek for a set of six pieces for piano (c1803). These and other early examples are restrained in character, but free fantasias of an epic, heroic or national character were later often given the title. Examples include the 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies of Liszt and the rhapsodies by Brahms and Dohnányi (for piano), Dvořák, Enescu, Chabrier and Vaughan Williams (for orchestra) and Bartók (for solo instruments and orchestra).

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rhapsody, in the modern sense, a work or passage expressing ecstatic or uncontrolled emotion, often in a loosely structured fashion. In ancient Greece, a rhapsody was a selection of epic poetry sung by a rhapsode or rhapsodist—literally a ‘stitcher’ who combined memorized passages with his own improvisations, although this kind of minstrel was later required chiefly to recite Homer's Iliad and Odyssey in their established versions.

Adjective: rhapsodic.

verb: rhapsodize.

Ballet in one act with choreography and set by Ashton, music by Rachmaninov, and costumes by William Chappell. Premiered 4 Aug. 1980 by the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, London, with Baryshnikov and Collier. This setting of Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini for Piano and Orchestra was choreographed as a showcase for the virtuosity of its principal dancers and was dedicated to the Queen Mother. It was revived by the Royal in 1995 with new designs by Patrick Caulfield. Earlier ballets to the same score include Fokine's for de Basil's Ballets Russes, London (1939), and Lavrovsky's for the Bolshoi Ballet (1960).

The recitation of a short epic poem or a longer epic abridged for recitation.

IN BRIEF: A musical composition having a irregular form. Also: Exaggerated enthusiasm.

The musician composed a rhapsody and a concerto for the concert.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - rapsodi

Nederlands (Dutch)
rapsodie

Français (French)
n. - rhapsodie

Deutsch (German)
n. - Rhapsodie, Schwärmerei

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - ραψωδία

Italiano (Italian)
rapsodia

Português (Portuguese)
n. - rapsódia (f)

Русский (Russian)
рапсодия, неумеренное восхваление

Español (Spanish)
n. - rapsodia

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - rapsodi, extas

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
叙事诗, 狂喜, 狂文

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 敘事詩, 狂喜, 狂文

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 그리스 서사시, 열광적인 문장, 광상곡

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 狂想詩, 熱狂的なことば, 狂想曲, 狂詩曲

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الحماسه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮יצירה נלהבת, התלהבות, רפסודיה (מוסיקה)‬

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rhapsody