A recitation or song of a rhapsodist; a portion of an epic poem adapted for recitation, or usually recited, at one time; hence, a division of the Iliad or the Odyssey; called also a book
means songs strung together The term was originally applied to the books of the Iliad and Odyssey, which at one time were in fragments Certain bards collected together a number of the fragments, enough to make a connected ballad, and sang them as our minstrels sang the deeds of famous heroes Those bards who sang the Iliad wore a red robe, and those who sang the Odyssey a blue one Pìsistratos of Athens had all these fragments carefully compiled into their present form (Greek rapto, to sew or string together; ode, a song )
A poetic utterance of epic character: for example, Brahms in his three piano rhapsodies and in the Alto Rhapsdy A more popular meaning of the term is an orchestral fantasia, gay in mood, often with sharply contrasted feeligns, and utilizing popular or folk melodies In this category we find Enesco's Rumanian Rhapsodies, Chabrier's España, Dvorák's Slavonic Rhapsodies, Ravel's Spanish Rhapsody, and Gerhwin's Rhapsody in Blue Bohemian composer, Tmoaschek, used this term for the first time in music when he wrote six rhapsodies for the piano But it did not come into general usage until Liszt wrote the Hungarian Rhapsodies
{i} rapture, ecstasy; portion of an epic poem suitable for recitation; expression of enthusiasm; expression of enthusiasm; improvisatory instrumental composition with an irregular form (Music)