Word painting
Musical depiction of words in text. Using the device of word painting, the music tries to imitate the emotion, action, or adjectival description in the text. This device was used often in madrigals and other works of the Renaissance.
SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:
- Word painting, Baroque:
Handel: Samson, "Let the Bright Seraphim" - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 2, Track 54
- Word painting, Classical:
Mozart: Requiem in D minor, K. 626, Dies Irae, "Quantus tremor" - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 3, Track 8
- Haydn: The Creation, "Achieved is the glorious work"
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 3, Track 7
- Word painting, Renaissance:
Marenzio: La bella ninfa mia - W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 2, Track 4
- Weelkes: Welcome sweet pleasure
- W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank --
Disc 2, Track 45
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