Browning was trained extensively in music, both in composition and musical theory. Professional musicians and musicologists have been dismissive of his use of musical terms, but the music scholar Deryck Cooke writes of the poet's precise grasp of fine musical detail in this work. David Parkinson identifies "a link between each syllable of the poem and the musical notes of a scale."
Browning received extensive training in both composition and music theory. While professional musicians and musicologists have criticized his use of musical terminology, music scholar Deryck Cooke praises Browning's precise understanding of musical nuances within this work. David Parkinson highlights a connection between each syllable in the poem and corresponding musical notes on a scale.