PROGRAMME MUSIC Meaning and
Definition
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Programme music is a genre of classical music that aims to illustrate or depict a non-musical narrative or story. Also known as descriptive music or orchestrated music, it portrays scenes, characters, or events through the use of musical techniques such as tone painting, instrumental colors, and thematic development. The term "programme" refers to a written or verbal explanation of the narrative, which can be provided by the composer, included in the program notes, or even left to the listener's interpretation.
In programme music, the composer intends to evoke emotions, images, or the atmosphere associated with a particular subject or theme. The music may illustrate a literary or mythological story, a specific historical event, a scene from nature, or even an abstract concept. Composers may use various compositional techniques to enhance the depiction, such as the use of leitmotifs (recurring musical themes representing characters or ideas), changing harmonies, rhythmic patterns, and dynamics to convey the evolving narrative.
Programme music became popular during the Romantic era in the 19th century when composers sought to evoke deeper emotions and transcend the limitations of absolute music. Prominent examples of programme music include Richard Strauss's "Also sprach Zarathustra," based on Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical work, Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," inspired by an art exhibition, and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," representing the French invasion of Russia.
Overall, programme music enriches the listening experience by expanding the musical language to include visual and narrative elements, opening up a world of imagination and storytelling through sound.
Common Misspellings for PROGRAMME MUSIC
- orogramme music
- lrogramme music
- -rogramme music
- 0rogramme music
- peogramme music
- pdogramme music
- pfogramme music
- ptogramme music
- p5ogramme music
- p4ogramme music
- prigramme music
- prkgramme music
- prlgramme music
- prpgramme music
- pr0gramme music
- pr9gramme music
- proframme music
- provramme music
- probramme music
Etymology of PROGRAMME MUSIC
The word "programme music" comes from the French term "musique descriptives" or "music with a program". The term was used in France in the mid-19th century to describe instrumental music that aimed to depict or evoke extra-musical concepts, such as ideas, stories, or scenes. It was popularized by French composers like Hector Berlioz, who wrote a treatise called "Grand traité d'instrumentation et d'orchestration modernes" in 1843, where he discussed the concept of "programme music". Over time, as the concept spread outside of France, the term "programme music" became the standard way of referring to this type of music.
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