tone painting

noun

musical description, by harmonic, melodic, or rhythmic means, of the words of a text or the story elements in program music.

First recorded in 1900–05

Here Verdi has surpassed himself, and given us page after page of dramatic tone-painting of the highest order.

No one has approached Orlando in the ingenuity, quaintness and humour of his tone-painting.

His command of color in tone-painting and power of dramatic suggestion have rarely been equaled, and never surpassed.

A great breath of nature passed over German music, and pushed it towards tone-painting.

And an instant afterwards she was at the piano, throwing her whole soul into that wonderful piece of tone-painting.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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