Program Music (Noun)
Meaning
Musical compositions intended to evoke images or remind the listener of events.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- Debussy's "La Mer" is an example of program music, with its evocative depiction of the sea's power and beauty.
- The musical composition "Don Quixote" by Richard Strauss is considered program music, as it tells the story of the famous novel through music.
- The composer specifically wrote the piece as program music, with each movement intended to evoke a particular image or mood.
- Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" is a well-known example of program music, with each movement intended to evoke a different painting or scene.
- Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" is a famous example of program music, with the different concertos evoking the scenes and sounds of each season.