Program Music is mostly an exclusive term in the European classical music tradition, especially in Romantic music period of 19th century. This concept was extremely popular in those days, however the idea of piece fitting description has been long in a part of music history. This term is usually referring to purely instrumental pieces which is without a singer and lyrics and it is not used for opera and lieder. If the program music is a single movement, that piece of program music is usually called as symphonic poems.
Program music is a type of music that tries to musically describe an extra-musical narrative to the audience. It might offer the audience a program notes to give the audience a sense of what to expect when listening. Composers …show more content…
Moonlight shines on the pine trees that grows on the hill near the temple of Janus. The composer took this opportunity to create a nightingale recording and play it just before the end of the third movement, this was something new which has never been done before.
In the last movement, the composer tries to recall the glories of the Roman republic used to have. In order to create this scene, the composer portrays pine trees lining along the Appian Way, which is a military road going into Rome, in a misty dawn as the triumphant legion advances on the Via Appia like the brilliance of a newly-rising sun. to create the footsteps of the army, the composer indicated that he wants buccine to play that part, which is an ancient circular trumpet usually represented by modern flugelhorns.

There are some program specifically written to imitate or represent animals. The Carnival of the Animals (Le carnaval des animaux) by Saint-Saëns, a French Romantic composer. It consists 14 movements
I Introduction et marche royale du lion (Introduction and Royal March of the Lion)
II Poules et coqs (Hens and Roosters)
III Hémiones (animaux véloces) (Wild Asses: Swift Animals)
IV Tortues