Tone Poem
Romantic works
Definition
A single-movement orchestral work that gives musical expression to extra-musical content such as a poem, painting, landscape, or narrative. Piano transcriptions and original piano tone poems extend the form.
Historical Context
The term was coined by Liszt, who composed twelve symphonic poems for orchestra. His solo piano works often function as tone poems in miniature — Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este anticipates Impressionist water music. Strauss perfected the orchestral form.