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tone poem

noun Music.
  1. an instrumental composition intended to portray a particular story, scene, mood, etc.
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Compare program music, symphonic poem.

Origin of tone poem

First recorded in 1900–05
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for tone poem

Historical Examples

  • The orchestra played their tone-poem faultlessly as to notes.

    The Genius

    Margaret Horton Potter

  • The plan of the tone-poem that gradually unfolds is one of the clearest.

    Musical Criticisms

    Arthur Johnstone

  • The music to this sentiment is a tone-poem well worthy of the text.

    Stars of the Opera

    Mabel Wagnalls

  • Like that of the hero of his tone-poem, his life is a long journey toward Finland.

    Musical Portraits

    Paul Rosenfeld

  • In a concert-hall the poetic idea of the tone-poem was petty.

    Visionaries

    James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for tone poem

tone poem

noun
  1. another term for symphonic poem
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012