A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Canzonet

by William H. Cummings

CANZONET (in Italian Canzonetta) originally meant a smaller form of canzona. Morley in 1597 published 'Canzonets or little short songs to four voices; selected out of the best and approved Italian authors.' Afterwards the word was used for vocal soli of some length in more than one movement; nowadays it is applied to short songs, generally of a light and airy character. Haydn has left us some admirable canzonets, grave and gay; for example, 'She never told her love,' and 'My mother bids me bind my hair.'

[ W. H. C. ]