Doctrine Of The Affections

A term applied to a compositional technique employed in common practice music in which the music would ascend or descend, rise or fall according to the intent of the lyrics. For example if the text read: "My eyes lift to the heavens" the music would be written to go higher in the scale. "My soul, into the deep" might inspire the writer to lead the progression to lower tones. Any textural emotion which the composer depicted may be accompanied by the musical equivalent. This technique has, of course created the opposite reaction in composers wishing to do away with norms and conventions.