A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Piece
PIECE. This word, which in the 17th and 18th centuries was used generally for a literary composition (for examples see the criticisms in the Spectator, vols. 4 and 5, on 'Paradise Lost,' which is constantly spoken of as 'that sublime piece'), and in later times for a dramatic work, has since the end of the last century been applied to instrumental musical compositions as a general and untechnical term. The earliest application of the word in this sense is to the component parts of a suite, which are called pieces (compare the French 'Suite de pièces'). It is not as a rule applied to movements of sonatas or symphonies, unless such movements are isolated from their surroundings, and played alone: nor is it applied to the symphonies or sonatas taken as a whole. An exception to this rule is found in the direction at the beginning of Beethoven's Sonata, Op. 27, No. 2—'Si deve suonare tutto questo pezzo (the first movement, of course) delicatissimaniente e senza sordini.' It is not used of vocal music, except in the cases of portions of operas, such as finales etc. for many voices, to which the name 'Concerted piece,' 'Pezzo concertante,' is not unfrequently given. Cognate uses are found in most modern languages: the French using pièce or morceau, the Germans Stück, Musikstück, the Italians pezzo.
[ J. A. F. M. ]