romances sans paroles

romances sans paroles (FR N-F PL) songs without words. The phrase is taken from composer Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809 – 1847), who composed dozens of character pieces for piano solo called, in German, Lieder ohne Worte (Songs Without Words). The pieces, often played in salons, were very well known in France. Verlaine titled one volume of his poetry Romances sans paroles (1874). (Verlaine)