--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Speaking generally, there are two kinds…" description: "\"“Speaking generally, there are two kinds of descriptive music. The first comes under the heading of literal description. A composer wishes to recreate ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/aaron-copland-15785_music_speaking-generally-there-are-two-kinds-o_2350205.jpg" --- # Speaking generally, there are two kinds of descriptive… ![“Speaking generally, there are two kinds of descriptive music. The first comes under the heading of literal description. A composer wishes to recreate the sound of bells in the night. He therefore writes certain chords, for orchestra or piano or whatever medium he is using, which actually sound…” quote by Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/aaron-copland-15785_music_speaking-generally-there-are-two-kinds-o_2350205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/aaron-copland-15785_music_speaking-generally-there-are-two-kinds-o_2350205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/068/aaron-copland-15785_music_speaking-generally-there-are-two-kinds-o_2350205.jpg) > ““Speaking generally, there are two kinds of descriptive music. The first comes under the heading of literal description. A composer wishes to recreate the sound of bells in the night. He therefore writes certain chords, for orchestra or piano or whatever medium he is using, which actually sound like bells in the night. Something real is being imitated realistically. A famous example of that kind of description in music is the passage in one of Strauss’s tone poems where he imitates the bleating of sheep. The music has no other raison d’être than mere imitation at that point. The other type of descriptive music is less literal and more poetic. No attempt is made to describe a particular scene or event; nevertheless some outward circumstance arouses certain emotions in the composer which he wishes to communicate to the listener. It may be clouds or the sea or a country fair or an airplane. But the point is that instead of literal imitation, one gets a musicopoetic transcription of the phenomenon as reflected in the composer’s mind. That constitutes a higher form of program music. The bleating of sheep will always sound like the bleating of sheep, but a cloud portrayed in music allows the imagination more freedom. One principle must be kept firmly”” [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Descriptive music splits into literal imitation of sounds and poetic, emotional transcription, with the latter offering greater artistic freedom. **In simple terms:** Two types: realistic sound copying and poetic feeling expression. Key Takeaway Prefer poetic program music for creative depth. Themes music program music literal vs poetic creativity Mood reflective inspired Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - composition - education - performance - analysis Key Concepts musical representation emotional communication artistic abstraction Questions to Reflect On - How does poetic music affect listener imagination? - When is literal description effective? A Different Perspective Literal imitation can be limiting; audience may miss deeper meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Description Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/description-music-5719354/) [Descriptive Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/descriptive-music-5719353/) [Literal Description](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literal-description-5719355/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Literal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-literal-466904/) [Portrayed Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portrayed-music-5719356/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I like to make people dream and think and imagine and learn and study. 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And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) ## More by Aaron Copland > [I adore extravagance but I abhor waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/i-adore-extravagance-but-i-abhor-waste/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [The whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking "Is there a meaning to music?" My answer would be, "Yes", And "Can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/the-whole-problem-can-be-stated-quite-simply-by-asking-is-there-a/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [“As a matter of fact, no one is more tiresome than the person who can understand only realism in art. It shows a rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/as-a-matter-of-fact-no-one-is-more-tiresome-than-the-person-who-can/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [“Whatever comes under the heading of fugal form partakes in some way of the nature of a fugue. You already know, I feel sure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/whatever-comes-under-the-heading-of-fugal-form-partakes-in-some-way/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [“Every symphony, for example, is a sonata for orchestra; every string quartet is a sonata for four strings; every concerto a sonata for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/every-symphony-for-example-is-a-sonata-for-orchestra-every-string/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [Most people use music as a couch; they want to be pillowed on it, relaxed and consoled for the stress of daily living. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/most-people-use-music-as-a-couch-they-want-to-be-pillowed-on-it/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [Someone once asked me... whether I waited for inspiration. My answer was: "Every day!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/someone-once-asked-me-whether-i-waited-for-inspiration-my-answer-was/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [Inspiration may be a form of super-consciousness, or perhaps of sub-consciousnessóI wouldnít know. But I am sure it is the antithesis of self-consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/inspiration-may-be-a-form-of-super-consciousness-or-perhaps-of-sub/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [The greatest moments of the human spirit may be deduced from the greatest moments in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/the-greatest-moments-of-the-human-spirit-may-be-deduced-from-the/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [To stop the flow of music would be like the stopping of time itself, incredible and inconceivable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/to-stop-the-flow-of-music-would-be-like-the-stopping-of-time-itself/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [Composers tend to assume that everyone loves music. Surprisingly enough, everyone doesn’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/composers-tend-to-assume-that-everyone-loves-music-surprisingly/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [Music that is born complex is not inherently better or worse than music that is born simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/music-that-is-born-complex-is-not-inherently-better-or-worse-than/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [A great symphony is a man-made Mississippi down which we irresistibly flow from the instant of our leave-taking to a long forseen destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/a-great-symphony-is-a-man-made-mississippi-down-which-we-irresistibly/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [This whole problem can be stated quite simply by asking, “Is there a meaning to music?” My answer to that would be, “Yes.” And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/this-whole-problem-can-be-stated-quite-simply-by-asking-is-there-a/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) > [Is there a meaning to music? Yes. Can you state in so many words what the meaning is? No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-copland/is-there-a-meaning-to-music-yes-can-you-state-in-so-many-words-what/) [Aaron Copland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) [Explore all 42 Aaron Copland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-copland/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) [Hubert Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-laws/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Speaking generally, there are two kinds of descriptive music. The first comes under the heading of literal description. A composer wishes to recreate the sound of bells in the night. He therefore writes certain chords, for orchestra or piano or whatever medium he is using, which actually sound like bells in the night. Something real is being imitated realistically. A famous example of that kind of description in music is the passage in one of Strauss’s tone poems where he imitates the bleating of sheep. The music has no other raison d’être than mere imitation at that point. The other type of descriptive music is less literal and more poetic. No attempt is made to describe a particular scene or event; nevertheless some outward circumstance arouses certain emotions in the composer which he wishes to communicate to the listener. It may be clouds or the sea or a country fair or an airplane. But the point is that instead of literal imitation, one gets a musicopoetic transcription of the phenomenon as reflected in the composer’s mind. That constitutes a higher form of program music. The bleating of sheep will always sound like the bleating of sheep, but a cloud portrayed in music allows the imagination more freedom. 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