What is word painting in music

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For paintings and other art incorporating text, see Word art.

Word painting, also known as tone painting or text painting, is the musical technique of composing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song’s lyrics or story elements in programmatic music.

Historical development[edit]

Tone painting of words goes at least as far back as Gregorian chant. Musical patterns expressed both emotive ideas and theological meanings in these chants. For instance, the pattern fa-mi-sol-la signifies the humiliation and death of Christ and his resurrection into glory. Fa-mi signifies deprecation, while sol is the note of the resurrection, and la is above the resurrection, His heavenly glory («surrexit Jesus«). Such musical words are placed on words from the Biblical Latin text; for instance when fa-mi-sol-la is placed on «et libera» (e.g., introit for Sexagesima Sunday) in the Christian faith it signifies that Christ liberates us from sin through his death and resurrection.^[1]

Word painting developed especially in the late 16th century among Italian and English composers of madrigals, to such an extent that word painting devices came to be called madrigalisms. While it originated in secular music, it made its way into other vocal music of the period. While this mannerism became a prominent feature of madrigals of the late 16th century, including both Italian and English, it encountered sharp criticism from some composers. Thomas Campion, writing in the preface to his first book of lute songs in 1601, said of it: «… where the nature of everie word is precisely expresst in the Note … such childish observing of words is altogether ridiculous.»^[2]

Word painting flourished well into the Baroque music period. One well-known example occurs in Handel’s Messiah, where a tenor aria contains Handel’s setting of the text:^[3]

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low; the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. (Isaiah 40:4)^[4]

In Handel’s melody, the word «valley» ends on a low note, «exalted» is a rising figure; «mountain» forms a peak in the melody, and «hill» a smaller one, while «low» is another low note. «Crooked» is sung to a rapid figure of four different notes, while «straight» is sung on a single note, and in «the rough places plain», «the rough places» is sung over short, separate notes whereas the final word «plain» is extended over several measures in a series of long notes. This can be seen in the following example:^[5]

In popular music[edit]

There are countless examples of word painting in 20th century music.

One example occurs in the song «Friends in Low Places» by Garth Brooks. During the chorus, Brooks sings the word «low» on a low note.^[6] Similarly, on The Who’s album Tommy, the song «Smash the Mirror» contains the line «Rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise….» Each repetition of «rise» is a semitone higher than the last, making this an especially overt example of word-painting.^[7]

«Hallelujah» by Leonard Cohen includes another example of word painting. In the line «It goes like this the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift, the baffled king composing hallelujah,» the lyrics signify the song’s chord progression.^[8]

Justin Timberlake’s song «What Goes Around» is another popular example of text painting. The lyrics

What goes around, goes around, goes around

Comes all the way back around

descend an octave and then return to the upper octave, as though it was going around in a circle.

In the chorus of «Up Where We Belong» recorded by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, the melody rises during the words «Love lift us up».

In Johnny Cash’s «Ring of Fire», there is an inverse word painting where «down, down, down» is sung to the notes rising, and ‘higher’ is sung dropping from a higher to a lower note.

In Jim Reeves’s version of the Joe Allison and Audrey Allison song «He’ll Have to Go,» the singer’s voice sinks on the last word of the line, «I’ll tell the man to turn the juke box way down low.»

When Warren Zevon sings «I think I’m sinking down,» on his song «Carmelita,» his voice sinks on the word «down.»

In Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart’s «My Romance,» the melody jumps to a higher note on the word «rising» in the line «My romance doesn’t need a castle rising in Spain.»

In recordings of George and Ira Gershwin’s «They Can’t Take That Away from Me,» Ella Fitzgerald and others intentionally sing the wrong note on the word «key» in the phrase «the way you sing off-key».^[9]

Another inverse happens during the song «A Spoonful of Sugar» from Mary Poppins, as, during the line «Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,» the words «go down» leap from a lower to a higher note.

In Follies, Stephen Sondheim’s first time composing the words and music together, the number «Who’s That Woman?» contains the line «Who’s been riding for a fall?» followed by a downward glissando and bass bump, and then the line «Who is she who plays the clown?» followed by mocking saxophone wobbles.

At the beginning of the first chorus in Luis Fonsi’s «Despacito», the music is slowed down when the word «despacito'»(slowly) is performed.

In Secret Garden’s «You Raise Me Up», the words «you raise me up» are sung in a rising scale at the beginning of the chorus.

Queen use word painting in many of their songs (in particular, those written by lead singer Freddie Mercury). In «Somebody to Love», each time the word «Lord» occurs, it is sung as the highest note at the end of an ascending passage. In the same piece, the lyrics «I’ve got no rhythm; I just keep losing my beat» fall on off beats to create the impression that he is out of time.

Queen also uses word painting through music recording technology in their song «Killer Queen» where a flanger effect is placed on the vocals during the word «laser-beam» in bar 17.^[10]

In Mariah Carey’s 1991 single Emotions word painting is used throughout the song. The first use of word painting is in the lyric «deeper than I’ve ever dreamed of» where she sings down to the bottom of the staff, another example is also in the lyric «You make me feel so high» with the word «high» being sung with arpeggios with the last note being an E7

In Miley Cyrus’ ‘Wrecking Ball’, every time the title of the song is mentioned, all instruments engage in one huge wall of sound, therefore mimicking the sound of a wrecking ball whenever the chorus comes in.

Burt Bacharach uses word-painting in the song ‘In Between the Heartaches’ from Dionne Warwick’s Here_I_Am album. The song opens on an A-flat minor 11th chord. Dionne sings on the 11th of the chord (on the words…’In Between…’); a high E-flat briefly (on the word ‘the’); and back to the 11th and the 9th of the chord (on the word…’Heartaches…’) Those notes fall IN BETWEEN the notes of an A-flat minor triad (A-flat, C-flat, E-flat) making it a highly sophisticated example of word-painting.

See also[edit]

• Mickey Mousing
• Musica reservata
• Program music
• Eye music

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

• M. Clement Morin and Robert M. Fowells, «Gregorian Musical Words», in Choral essays: A Tribute to Roger Wagner, edited by Williams Wells Belan, San Carlos (CA): Thomas House Publications, 1993
• Sadie, Stanley. Word Painting. Carter, Tim. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Second edition, vol. 27.
• How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, Part 1, Disc 6, Robert Greenberg, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!

Asked by: Dr. Torrey Casper I

Score: 5/5
(10 votes)

Word painting is when the melody of a song actually reflects the meaning of the words. The best way to learn about it is to listen.

What is word painting give a brief example?

Musical depiction of words in text. Using the device of word painting, the music tries to imitate the emotion, action, or natural sounds as described in the text. For example, if the text describes a sad event, the music might be in a minor key. Conversely, if the text is joyful, the music may be set in a major key.

Which genre uses word painting?

Word painting is a device used frequently in Renaissance vocal music, especially madrigals—although it certainly also appeared in church music—in which the musical events are designed to illustrate or reflect the text.

What is characteristics of use of word painting?

Word painting is a compositional style of setting the melody so it vividly depicts the imagery, and actions taking place in the music. For instance words with a negative connotation such as descending, death, ground,etc. will have a melody with a downward movement of pitch.

What is paint music?

Word painting, also known as tone painting or text painting, is the musical technique of composing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song’s lyrics or story elements in programmatic music.

45 related questions found

Word painting is when the melody of a song actually reflects the meaning of the words. The best way to learn about it is to listen.

Why do musicians use word painting?

Musical depiction of words in text. Using the device of word painting, the music tries to imitate the emotion, action, or natural sounds as described in the text. For example, if the text describes a sad event, the music might be in a minor key. Conversely, if the text is joyful, the music may be set in a major key.

Which of the following is an example of word painting?

Word painting is when the music describes the action. Word painting was popular in 16th century secular music. An example of word painting would be when someone is going down a hill, the music descends as well. Thomas Weelkes uses word painting in As Vesta was from Latmos Hill Descending.

Which best defines the term word painting?

Identify the correct definition for “word painting.” the process of depicting the text in music, be it subtly, overtly, or even jokingly, by means of expressive musical devices (the musical reflection of the text).

When it comes to the Madrigal What is word painting?

Madrigals are secural. One of the strongest, and most recognizable characteristics used in madrigal is word painting. Word painting is a compositional style of setting the melody so it vividly depicts the imagery, and actions taking place in the music.

What is the difference between word painting and declamation?

How a text is set to music is called its declamation. Recitative and word painting are two types of musical declamation: recitative is a speech-like, declamatory singing style that emphasizes the important syllables and words of the text, while word painting is a musical illustration of a word being sung.

What is the best description of text painting in music?

Word painting, also known as tone painting or text painting, is the musical technique of composing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song’s lyrics or story elements in programmatic music.

What is the golden age of acapella music?

The Renaissance period became known as the golden age of a cappella choral music because choral music did not require an instrumental accompaniment.

What is word painting and how was it used in music?

How was word painting used?

Word painting is the technique of creating lyrics that reflect literally alongside the music of a song and vice versa. For example, singing the word “stop” as the music cuts out. For example, Garth Brooks sings the word “low” much deeper than the rest of the lyrics in the track “Friends in Low Places”.

What is an example of word painting?

A modern example of word painting from the late 20th century occurs in the song “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks. During the chorus, Brooks sings the word “low” on a low note. Similarly, on The Who’s album Tommy, the song “Smash the Mirror” contains the line.

What is the word painting in music?

Word painting (also known as tone painting or text painting) is the musical technique of composing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song’s lyrics or story elements in programmatic music.

What is word painting music?

Word painting. Word painting (also known as tone painting or text painting) is the musical technique of composing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song’s lyrics. For example, ascending scales would accompany lyrics about going up; slow, dark music would accompany lyrics about death.

What is text painting in modern music?

text painting. Text painting is a technique of music composition in which the composer deliberately illustrates aspects of the words in the text with localized aspects of the music. It is also called madrigalism (after the Renaissance madrigals who popularized it), word-painting, and less frequently as musica reservata.

Musical depiction of words in text. Using the device of word painting, the music tries to imitate the emotion, action, or natural sounds as described in the text. For example, if the text describes a sad event, the music might be in a minor key. Conversely, if the text is joyful, the music may be set in a major key.

What is word painting in music appreciation?

Word painting, also known as tone painting or text painting, is the musical technique of composing music that reflects the literal meaning of a song’s lyrics or story elements in programmatic music.

Word painting in songwriting… Word painting is the technique of creating lyrics that reflect literally alongside the music of a song and vice versa. For example, singing the word “stop” as the music cuts out. Depending on which you write first (music or lyrics) it can be carried out in any order.

What is a Organa in music?

organum, plural Organa, originally, any musical instrument (later in particular an organ); the term attained its lasting sense, however, during the Middle Ages in reference to a polyphonic (many-voiced) setting, in certain specific styles, of Gregorian chant.

What is the difference between word painting and declamation?

How a text is set to music is called its declamation. Recitative and word painting are two types of musical declamation: recitative is a speech-like, declamatory singing style that emphasizes the important syllables and words of the text, while word painting is a musical illustration of a word being sung.

What effect does word painting have?

formed into a surprisingly symmetrical array (Figure 1). tion, word painting represents only an option of one of th surface effects (rhythmic, phonetic, formal, rhetorical, d symbolic, pictorial). These effects rarely occur in isolation complex and often changing relationships necessarily sup diagram.

What does Plainsong mean in music?

: a monophonic rhythmically free liturgical chant of any of various Christian rites especially : gregorian chant.

What is word painting in literature?

n. 1. The technique of using the phonic qualities of words to suggest or reinforce their meaning, especially in poetry.

Which is an example of a word painting?

Word painting is a compositional style of setting the melody so it vividly depicts the imagery, and actions taking place in the music. For instance words with a negative connotation such as descending, death, ground,etc. will have a melody with a downward movement of pitch.

How is word painting used in a madrigal?

One of the strongest, and most recognizable characteristics used in madrigal is word painting. Word painting is a compositional style of setting the melody so it vividly depicts the imagery, and actions taking place in the music.

Where does the term appoggiatura come from in music?

The term derives from the early practice of singing psalms “antiphonally”- that is, with two or more alternating choirs. appoggiatura A strong-beat dissonance that resolves to a consonance; used as an expressive device in much tonal music.

In this post, we’ll be discussing the concept of word painting and how it can be used to enhance the lyrical content of your songs.

Introduction

In literature, word painting is a technique employed to create vivid images through the strategic use of language. By deliberately choosing words that evoke certain senses or emotions, writers are able to ‘paint’ a picture in the reader’s mind. This literary device is not limited to prose – poets and songwriters also make use of word painting to create evocative images and convey meaning in their work.

In songs, word painting often takes the form of similes and metaphors. By comparing one thing to another, songwriters are able to create a more vivid picture in the listener’s mind and communicate their ideas more effectively. For example, in Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’, she uses the metaphor of a fairy tale to convey the idea that true love can overcome any obstacle:

We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I’m standing there on a balcony in summer air
See the lights, see the party, hear the music too
I feel like I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go

In this example, the singer is using the fairy tale genre as a metaphor for her own love story. By framing her relationship in this way, she is able to highlight its romantic qualities and suggest that it has a happy ending.

Word painting can also be used to create atmosphere or mood in a song. For instance, in Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’, she uses sensory language to describe the feeling of being in a busy city:

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
…

The sound of traffic buzzing past; horns honking; brakes squealing; tires on wet pavement – these are all auditory images that Mitchell uses to transport us into the heart of the city. We can almost hear the busyness and smell the exhaust fumes ourselves! Through her use of word painting, Mitchell is able to create a strong sense of place which amplifies the message of her song.

What is Word Painting?

Word painting is a type of figurative language that uses words to describe music or create a mental image of the music being played. It is commonly used in poetry, but can also be found in pop songs. Word painting can be used to describe the sound of the music, the mood of the song, or the overall feel of the piece.

One of the most common examples of word painting is when a singer describes the sound of the music using onomatopoeia. This can be seen in the lyrics of Katy Perry’s song “Hot N Cold” where she singing about how her love interest is “like a volcano ready to blow.” The word “blow” is an example of onomatopoeia that is used to describe the sound of an eruption.

Another example of word painting can be found in Muse’s song “Uprising” where they use words to describe the feeling of a revolution. The lyrics “They will not force us/ They will stop degrading us/ They will not control us/ We will be victorious” create a mental image of a group of people standing up against an oppressor.

Word painting is a creative way for artists to connect with their audience and create a more vivid listening experience. By using words to describe music, artists are able to give listeners a better understanding of what they are trying to convey through their song.

Examples of Word Painting in Pop Music

Word painting is a technique often used by songwriters to create vivid images in the mind of the listener. By using vivid words and descriptive language, word painting can help to bring the lyrics of a song to life. In popular music, word painting is often used to create a sense of atmosphere or to convey emotions. Let’s take a look at some examples of word painting in pop music.

“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston

One of the most popular examples of word painting in pop music comes from Whitney Houston’s 1992 hit “I Will Always Love You.” The song, written by Dolly Parton, is a tender ballad about the speaker’s devotion to her lover. Throughout the song, Houston uses word painting to convey the depth of her emotions.

In the opening lines, she sings: “I will always love you / I will never leave you / I will never forget how much I love you.” Here, she uses the words “always” and “never” to emphasize her dedication. The repetition of “I will” also emphasizes her resolve.

Later in the song, she paints a picture of her lover’s smile: “Your smile, your touch / I’ll always miss / But as long as I live / I will always love you.” Here, she again uses the word “always” to show that her love is constant. The words “Your smile, your touch” are an example of synecdoche, where a part is used to represent the whole. In this case, she is using her lover’s smile and touch to represent him as a whole.

The final chorus is a powerful statement of devotion: “I will always love you / I swear from the bottom of my heart / I’ll be right here loving you forever and ever.” Here, she again uses repetition for emphasis, as well as words like “swear” and “forever” to show that her love is everlasting.

Whitney Houston’s use of word painting in “I Will Always Love You” is creative and effective. It helps convey the speaker’s deep emotions and makes the song more memorable.

“Yesterday” by The Beatles

Word painting is a literary device in which the lyrics of a song are used to paint a picture or tell a story. One of the most famous examples of word painting can be found in The Beatles’ song “Yesterday.” In this song, the lyrics are used to tell the story of a man who is struggling to deal with the loss of his love. The following example shows how the lyrics are used to create a mental image of the man’s emotional state:

All my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they’re here to stay
Oh, I believe in yesterday

Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be
There’s a shadow hanging over me
Oh, yesterday came suddenly

“I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton

Whitney Houston’s hit single “I Will Always Love You” was originally released in 1974 by country music singer Dolly Parton. The song is a ballad with lyrics that express deep emotions of love and loss.

The opening lines of the song (“If I should stay”) establish a sense ofJove and devotion (“I will always love you”). But the singer also knows that their time together may be limited (“if I go away”) and that their partner may eventually find someone new (“though near or far”).

Despite the possibility of separation, the singer pledges their eternal love (“I will always love you”). The lyrics paint a picture of love that is strong enough to weather any storm.

How to Use Word Painting in Your Own Songs

Word painting is a lyrical technique that can be used to paint a picture or create a mood using words. It is often used in pop music to create a more vivid and emotional image in the listener’s mind. If you want to try using word painting in your own songs, here are a few tips to get you started.

Be Creative

One approach to word painting is to be creative with the lyrics themselves. You don’t necessarily need to change the meaning of the words, but you can play with the way they sound. This can be done by adding or subtracting syllables, changing the vowel sounds, or even making up new words that fit the melody.

Another approach is to use metaphors and similes to create vivid images in the listener’s mind. This can be a great way to add Interest and emotion to your lyrics.

A third option is to play with the structure of the sentences themselves. You can use short phrases, choppy sentence fragments, or even single words to create a particular effect.

All of these approaches can be combined in any number of ways to create a unique sound that reflects the mood and message of your song. Get creative and experiment until you find what works best for you!

Be Consistent

If you want to use word painting effectively in your songs, it’s important to be consistent with the techniques you use. Choose a few techniques that work well together and stick to them throughout the song. This will create a cohesive feel and help the listener follow along with the story you’re trying to tell.

It can be tempting to try out every word painting technique in one song, but this can often result in a chaotic or disjointed feel. Instead, focus on using a few techniques that complement each other and work well with the meaning of your lyrics.

One of the most important things to remember when using word painting is to be consistent with the emotions you’re trying to convey. If your song is supposed to be sad, using happy word painting techniques will just confuse the listener. Likewise, if your song is meant to be uplifting, using sad word painting techniques will only bring the mood down.

Keep these things in mind as you start experimenting with word painting in your own songs!

Use Imagery

One of the best ways to get started with word painting is to focus on using imagery in your lyrics. Imagery is all about creating a picture in the listener’s mind, and it’s a great way to add interest and depth to your songs.

To use imagery in your lyrics, start by thinking about the different senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Then, try to come up with words and phrases that will help the listener “see” what you’re singing about. For example, if you’re singing about a sunset, you might use words like “golden” or “glowing” to describe the color of the sky. Or, if you want the listener to imagine the sound of waves crashing on the beach, you might use words like “crashing” or “roaring.”

In addition to using sensory words, you can also use metaphors and similes to create images in the listener’s mind. For example, if you’re singing about love, you might compare it to a flame by saying “love is like a fire that burns brightly in my heart.” Or, if you’re singing about a difficult situation, you might say “it feels like I’m walking through quicksand.”

By using imagery in your lyrics, you can paint a vivid picture that will help the listener feel connected to your song.

Conclusion

As you can see, word painting can be a very effective tool in your songwriting arsenal. By creating vivid images and images within your lyrics, you can take your listener on a journey through the song, creating an emotional connection that will stay with them long after the song is over. So don’t be afraid to get creative with your lyrics and experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you and your songs.