Final answer:
The non-musical elements of program music specified in the options are narrative or descriptive elements. These elements help convey stories or themes beyond the music, offering a cohesive experience or narrative when combined thoughtfully in a program.
Step-by-step explanation:
Program music often conveys a narrative or depicts a scene non-musically, providing context beyond the music itself. Among the options provided, the non-musical elements of program music specified would be a) Narrative or descriptive elements. Program music aims to evoke images or convey stories to the listener through the music. Melodic structure, rhythmic patterns, and harmonic progression, although important aspects of music, are considered musical elements rather than non-musical.
When constructing or analyzing a music program as a whole, it's important to consider the through-line across various compositions. A curator or listener might ask: What common theme or narrative is presented? and Does the order of the program unfold a story? Adding pieces that complement the program, regardless of the composer's gender, can indeed round out the experience and enhance the thematic cohesion of the performance.