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A '''song cycle''' (in classical music) is a set of songs written by the same composer that, though individually complete, are part of the same narrative, or of related emotion, thought or expression, and can be performed together as an entity. It is the vocal equivalent of the [[suite]].

A '''song cycle''' (in classical music) is a set of songs written by the same [[composer]] that, though individually complete, are part of the same narrative, or of related emotion, thought or expression, and can be performed together as an entity. It is the vocal equivalent of the [[suite]].

Whilst a form of the song cycle can be said to have existed in the first half of the 17th century, it is generally recognised that [[Beethoven]]’s “To the Distant Beloved” (“''An die ferne Geliebte''”) (1816) is the first modern song cycle. [[Franz Schubert]]’s three great cycles; “Die schone Müllerin” (1823), “''Winterreise''” (1827) and “''Schwanengesang''” (published after his death in 1828); and Robert Schumann]]’s “''Fraunliebe und Leben''”  (1843) and “''Dichterliebe''” (1844) are generally considered the high point of the art of song in the early romantic era.

Whilst a form of the song cycle can be said to have existed in the first half of the 17th century, it is generally recognised that [[Beethoven]]’s “To the Distant Beloved” (“''An die ferne Geliebte''”) (1816) is the first modern song cycle. [[Franz Schubert]]’s three great cycles; “Die schone Müllerin” (1823), “''Winterreise''” (1827) and “''Schwanengesang''” (published after his death in 1828); and Robert Schumann]]’s “''Fraunliebe und Leben''”  (1843) and “''Dichterliebe''” (1844) are generally considered the high point of the art of song in the early romantic era.