tone painting

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of tone painting¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg