Audio Deacon

Text Painting: Getting In on the Joke

Brian Moats

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0:00 | 13:46

In this topical episode of Audio Deacon, we explor text painting - the art of shaping music to mirror the meaning of the words themselves. From Gregorian chant and Handel’s Messiah to The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, Punch Brothers, and modern pop and folk, this episode traces how composers and songwriters turn melody, rhythm, texture, and timing into storytelling tools. These “musical jokes”—sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle, invite listeners to hear more carefully and discover how music can preach, illustrate, and delight alongside the lyrics. Once you start noticing text painting, you're in on the joke. 

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