The relationship between Western music and literature is as follows:

The relationship between Western music and literature has a long history, and there is a close connection and mutual influence between the two. Music and literature are both art forms that express human emotions, thoughts and culture. In the Western cultural tradition, they are often intertwined and complement each other, and together constitute the richness of Western culture.

1. Musical elements in literary works:

In literary works, descriptions and references to music often appear. Writers use words to describe the melody, rhythm and emotion of music to enhance the artistic expression of their works. For example, descriptions of concerts, musicians, and musical works can often be seen in novels and poems. These descriptions can not only add atmosphere to the work, but also enable readers to better understand the connotation of the literary work.

2. Literary inspiration in music creation:

Many music composers are inspired by literary works and create a large number of musical works based on literary works. For example, Debussy's symphony "Romeo and Juliet" was based on Shakespeare's play of the same name. Music composers express their understanding and emotional resonance of literary works through music, making musical works more colorful.

3. Musicals and operas:

Musicals and operas are one of the art forms that most closely combine music and literature. Musicals usually include dialogue, music and dance, and are a synthesis of music, drama and literature. Opera is based on literary works and uses music to express the plot and the inner world of the characters. Famous opera composers such as Verdi and Puccini have created many operas based on literary works, allowing classic literary works to be reproduced on the stage.

4. Narrative nature of music:

Music has a strong narrative nature and can express story plots and emotional ups and downs through melody, harmony and rhythm. In symphonic music, composers often use music to interpret stories in epics, myths, and literary works, transforming literary plots into musical expressions.

In general, the relationship between Western music and literature is very close. They inspire and penetrate each other, providing each other with rich creative materials and forms of expression. This blend not only enriches the connotation of Western culture, but also provides a broad space for the development of music and literature.