Mitch Friedfeld wrote:

>What is it called when the music takes the shape of what's in the lyrics?

I've always used the phrase "tone painting" or "word painting".
Incidentally, Handel is used this technique quie a bit.  Nearly every one
of his vocal works has *some* kind of musical imagery attached to various
words or phrases.  One of the best in my book is from "Joshua" where the
instruments depict the sun and moon holding still in the sky.  Oh, that
poor trumpet player.:)

Mark K. Ehlert