programme music: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal; Academic; Musical/Artistic
Quick answer
What does “programme music” mean?
Instrumental music intended to tell a story, depict a scene, or evoke a specific idea or emotion beyond the music itself.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Instrumental music intended to tell a story, depict a scene, or evoke a specific idea or emotion beyond the music itself.
A composition where the music serves a narrative, descriptive, or illustrative purpose, often inspired by a poem, painting, story, or natural phenomenon. The programme (story or concept) may be provided in the title or in descriptive notes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, the spelling is consistently 'programme music'. In American English, it is 'program music'. The meaning is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties, associated with 19th-century Romanticism (e.g., Berlioz, Liszt, Richard Strauss) and film scores.
Frequency
Higher frequency in academic, musicological, and critical contexts than in everyday conversation in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “programme music” in a Sentence
[Composer] composed [work] as programme music.[Work] is a classic example of programme music.The piece falls into the category of programme music.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “programme music” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The composer sought to programme a vivid storm scene in his symphony.
- She programme'd the entire legend into a single tone poem.
American English
- The composer sought to program a vivid storm scene in his symphony.
- He programmed the entire legend into a single tone poem.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The programme music tradition is strong in his work.
- It was a programme music piece of great ambition.
American English
- The program music tradition is strong in his work.
- It was a programmatic piece of great ambition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in music history, theory, and criticism courses. Used to analyse Romantic-era and modern compositions.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by musicians or in discussions of classical music.
Technical
Core term in musicology. Used precisely to denote music with an extra-musical subject.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “programme music”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “programme music”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “programme music”
- Misspelling 'programme' as 'program' in British contexts.
- Using it to refer to any music with lyrics (it is strictly instrumental).
- Confusing it with 'incidental music' (music written for a play/film).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. While many pieces have a provided 'programme' (text), the term broadly applies to any instrumental music intending to depict non-musical ideas.
Yes, most film scores are a modern form of programme music, as they are composed to illustrate a narrative, though the term is most traditionally applied to concert works.
A tone poem (or symphonic poem) is a specific, usually single-movement orchestral form of programme music, often developed by Franz Liszt.
While the concept exists in earlier music (e.g., bird calls in Renaissance pieces), the term is most closely associated with the Romantic period (19th century) and onward.
Instrumental music intended to tell a story, depict a scene, or evoke a specific idea or emotion beyond the music itself.
Programme music is usually formal; academic; musical/artistic in register.
Programme music: in British English it is pronounced /ˈprəʊ.ɡræm ˌmjuː.zɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈproʊ.ɡræm ˌmjuː.zɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a music PROGRAMME (a brochure at a concert) that explains the story. Programme music IS that story told through the instruments.
Conceptual Metaphor
MUSIC IS A PAINTBRUSH / MUSIC IS A NARRATOR. (It paints pictures or tells stories.)
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary antonym of 'programme music'?