A
part song — or
part-song or
partsong — is a form of
choral music which consists of a
secular song which has been written or arranged for several vocal parts, commonly
SATB choir, but also for an all-male or all-female ensemble. It is usually primarily
homophonic, with the highest part carrying the melody and the other voices supplying the accompanying harmonies, rather than
contrapuntal like a
madrigal. Part songs are intended to be sung
unaccompanied unless an instrumental accompaniment is specified.