PROGRAMMUSIC Meaning and
Definition
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Program music is a genre of instrumental music that aims to depict or evoke a specific narrative, story, or subject matter. It is a form of composition that seeks to convey a non-musical idea through the use of musical elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and dynamics. In program music, the composer often provides a title, explanatory notes, or a written narrative to help the listener understand the intended storyline or concept behind the piece.
The concept of program music emerged during the Romantic period in the late 18th and 19th centuries, as composers sought to express emotions, scenes from nature, literary works, or historical events through their music. This genre allowed composers to transcend the limitations of absolute music, which does not have a specific narrative or extramusical meaning.
Program music often employs various musical devices to portray specific characters, scenes, or events. These devices include leitmotifs (recurring musical ideas associated with specific characters or themes), descriptive titles for movements or sections of a composition, and specific instrumentations to evoke certain atmospheres or environments.
Examples of program music include Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," Beethoven's "Symphony No. 6" (also known as the "Pastoral Symphony"), and Strauss' "Also sprach Zarathustra." These compositions vividly illustrate the concept of program music by painting musical pictures and communicating emotions or stories to their listeners. Program music continues to exist in contemporary compositions, allowing composers to tell narratives and invoke imagery through the power of sound.
Common Misspellings for PROGRAMMUSIC
- orogrammusic
- lrogrammusic
- -rogrammusic
- 0rogrammusic
- peogrammusic
- pdogrammusic
- pfogrammusic
- ptogrammusic
- p5ogrammusic
- p4ogrammusic
- prigrammusic
- prkgrammusic
- prlgrammusic
- prpgrammusic
- pr0grammusic
- pr9grammusic
- proframmusic
- provrammusic
- probrammusic
- prohrammusic
Etymology of PROGRAMMUSIC
The word "programmusic" is composed of two elements: "program" and "music".
The term "program" in this context refers to a plan, schedule, or written description of an event or performance. It carries the idea of a predetermined narrative or scenario to be followed. It was first used in English in the early 17th century.
The term "music" refers to the art form that involves organized sounds intended to be pleasing or expressive. It comes from the Old French word "musique", which derives from the Latin word "musica", and ultimately from the Greek word "mousike", meaning "art of the Muses".
When combined, "program" and "music" create the term "programmusic", which refers to a genre of instrumental music that is intended to depict or illustrate a non-musical idea, story, or program.
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