What is programme music?

Programme music is defined as music that tells a story or depicts a scene, often conveying specific imagery or emotions through its composition. This type of music uses instrumental motifs, themes, and orchestration to evoke a narrative experience or illustrate a particular idea, much like how a painting or a literary work would convey a story. Composers such as Berlioz, Liszt, and Dvořák are known for their use of programme music, where titles and descriptions are often provided to guide the listener's understanding and interpretation.

The other options describe elements of music but do not capture the essence of programme music. While structured formats refer to the organization and arrangement of musical components, and influences from folklore pertain to cultural elements in composition, these do not necessarily imply storytelling. Additionally, music composed for visual media, while it may also be narrative, specifically aligns with soundtracks and is a subset of programmatic expression rather than a definitive characteristic of programme music itself. Hence, viewing programme music as a narrative form is essential to grasping its unique role in the musical landscape.