rhapsody

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun Exalted or excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing.
• noun A literary work written in an impassioned or exalted style.
• noun A state of elated bliss; ecstasy.
• noun Music A usually instrumental composition of irregular form that often incorporates improvisation.
• noun An ancient Greek epic poem or a portion of one suitable for uninterrupted recitation.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun The recitation of epic poetry; hence, a short epic poem, or such a part of a longer epic as could be recited at one time: as, the Homeric rhapsodies.
• noun The exaggerated expression of real or affected feeling or enthusiasm; an outburst of extravagant admiration or regard; especially, a poetic composition marked rather by exaggerated sentiment or fancy than by sober, connected thought.
• noun In music, an instrumental composition in irregular form, somewhat like a caprice, impromptu, or improvisation, though properly more important: as, Liszt's Hungarian rhapsodies.
• noun Any rambling composition; a cento; hence, a medley; a jumble.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun 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.
• noun A disconnected series of sentences or statements composed under excitement, and without dependence or natural connection; rambling composition.
• noun (Mus.) A composition irregular in form, like an improvisation.”

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun An ancient Greek epic poem (or part of one) suitable for uninterrupted recitation.
• noun obsolete A random collection or medley; a miscellany or confused string of stories, words etc.
• noun An exalted or exaggeratedly enthusiastic expression of feeling in speech or writing.
• noun music An instrumental composition of irregular form often incorporating improvisation.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• noun an epic poem adapted for recitation