absolute music


noun

instrumental music, as a concerto or string quartet, that draws no inspiration from or makes no reference to a text, program, visual image, or title and that exists solely in terms of its musical form, structure, and elements.
Also called abstract music.
Compare program music.

Origin of absolute music

First recorded in 1885–90

British Dictionary definitions for absolute music

absolute music

noun

music that is not designed to depict or evoke any scene or event Compare programme music