Musical setting

A musical setting is a musical composition that is written on the basis of a literary work. The literary work is said to be set, or adapted, to music. Musical settings include choral music and other vocal music.[http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/setting Definition] Cambridge dictionary A musical setting is made to particular words, such as poems.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120721021747/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/setting Definition] Oxford dictionary By contrast, a musical arrangement is a musical reconceptualization of a previously composed work, rather than a brand new piece of music. An arrangement often refers to a change in medium or style and can be instrumental, not necessarily vocal music.[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/36011/arrangement Arrangement], Encyclopædia Britannica online

Texts commonly used in choral settings include the mass and the requiem in Western Christianity, and the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and the All-night vigil in Eastern Christianity. Examples include Mozart's Great Mass, and Leontovych's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

A poem that has been set to music is known as an art song{{citation | last = Randel | first = Don Michael | year = 2003 | title = The Harvard Dictionary of Music | publisher = Harvard University Press | page = 61 | isbn = 0-674-01163-5 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=02rFSecPhEsC&pg=PA61 | accessdate = 2012-10-22}} or Lied (German variant). Composers known for their art songs include Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann.